3/27 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 28 from three, 18 free throws a game; Trent Jr. at 20 and Dick at 12 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Barrett (7 straight), Quickley (4 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and DiVincenzo at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Anunoby (4 straight), Robinson (50 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-5 a night and Toronto minus-13 and the turnovers, Toronto giving it away 18 times a game to New York's 11. Call it New York 112, Toronto 106.

3/31 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 17 free throws a game; Trent Jr. at 21 and Dick at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 16 a night. Without Barrett (8 straight), Quickley (5 straight). 3 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Maxey at 24 and Harris at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Embiid (28 straight), Melton (16 straight), Covington (42 straight). One day's rest. So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been plus-2 a night and Toronto minus-16 and the turnovers, Toronto giving it away 18 times a game to Philadelphia's 10. Call it Philadelphia 113, Toronto 109, Toronto keeping it close.

4/02 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 18 free throws a game; Trent Jr. at 22 and Dick at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Barrett (9 straight), Quickley (6 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 30 free throws a game; Davis at 30 and James at 26 a game. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Vanderbilt (25 straight), Wood (19 straight). One day's rest. So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-5 a night and Toronto minus-13 and the line, where the Lakers take 30 free throws a game to Toronto's 18. Call it the Lakers 119, Toronto 115, Toronto keeping it close.

4/03 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 103, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 20 and Reid at 17 a game. Without Towns (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 18 free throws a game; Trent Jr. at 22 and Dick at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Agbaji (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 103 a night to Toronto's 123 and the glass, where Minnesota has been minus-2 a night and Toronto minus-13. Call it Minnesota 117, Toronto 106, Minnesota by 11.