3/17 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; George at 24 and Leonard at 19 a game. Without Harden (2 straight), Westbrook (8 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 31 and Bogdanović at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Young (10 straight), Okongwu (12 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 116, Atlanta 112, Atlanta keeping it close.

3/18 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 122, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; James at 30 and Russell at 19 a game. Without Reddish (3 straight), Vanderbilt (18 straight), Vincent (40 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 106, shooting 44 percent and 43 from three, 17 free throws a game; Murray at 32 and Hunter at 16 a game. Without Young (11 straight), Okongwu (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, Atlanta allowing 106 a night to the Lakers' 122 and the line, where the Lakers take 23 free throws a game to Atlanta's 17. Call it the Lakers 118, Atlanta 114, Atlanta keeping it close.

3/21 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 14 free throws a game; Booker at 22 and Allen at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Okogie (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Johnson at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Young (12 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-10 a night and Atlanta minus-4 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 14 times a game to Atlanta's 11. Call it Phoenix 118, Atlanta 114, Atlanta keeping it close.

3/23 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murray at 27 and Johnson at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Young (13 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 18 free throws a game; Bridges at 20 and Micić at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. 3 days' rest. So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 38 percent from three to Charlotte's 29 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 108 a night to Atlanta's 117. Call it Atlanta 115, Charlotte 110.