3/03 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 30 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 25 and Morant at 24 a game. One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Young at 25 and Okongwu at 16 a game. Without Johnson (16 straight), Krejčí (6 straight), Mathews (8 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 37 percent from three to Memphis's 30. Call it Memphis 124, Atlanta 117.

3/04 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 126, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Young at 19 and LeVert at 17 a game. Without Johnson (17 straight), Krejčí (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 25 and Lillard at 24 a game. Without Portis (6 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Milwaukee wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Milwaukee allowing 109 a night to Atlanta's 126 and the arc, Atlanta at 40 percent from three to Milwaukee's 34. Call it Milwaukee 118, Atlanta 115, Atlanta keeping it close.

3/06 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; LeVert at 20 and Young at 17 a game. Without Johnson (18 straight), Krejčí (8 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 16 free throws a game; Haliburton at 23 and Siakam at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Mathurin (3 straight), Isa. Jackson (54 straight). One day's rest. So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-2 a night and Indiana minus-10 and the defense, Indiana allowing 111 a night to Atlanta's 122. Call it Indiana 118, Atlanta 116, Atlanta keeping it close.

3/08 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 128, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Young at 20 and LeVert at 19 a game. Without Johnson (19 straight), Krejčí (9 straight), Mathews (2 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 14 free throws a game; Siakam at 25 and Haliburton at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Mathurin (4 straight), Isa. Jackson (55 straight). One day's rest. So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 111 a night to Atlanta's 128 and the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-3 a night and Indiana minus-8. Call it Indiana 120, Atlanta 117, Atlanta keeping it close.