3/08 @ ATL — 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.

3/10 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 23 free throws a game; White at 28 and Giddey at 20 a game. Without Vučević (7 straight), Williams (9 straight), Ball (4 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Haliburton at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Haliburton (2 straight), Isa. Jackson (56 straight). One day's rest. So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-4 a night and Indiana minus-9 and the arc, Indiana at 41 percent from three to Chicago's 29. Call it Indiana 119, Chicago 118, Chicago keeping it close.

3/11 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Nesmith at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Haliburton (3 straight), Isa. Jackson (57 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 114, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 31 and Lillard at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Portis (10 straight). One day's rest. So: Milwaukee wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-12 a night and Indiana minus-11 and the turnovers, Milwaukee giving it away 15 times a game to Indiana's 11. Call it Milwaukee 116, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.

3/14 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grimes at 25 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Maxey (5 straight), Okeke (14 straight), Lowry (13 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Mathurin at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Isa. Jackson (58 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 116 a night to Philadelphia's 124 and the glass, where Philadelphia has been minus-6 a night and Indiana minus-11. Call it Indiana 116, Philadelphia 115, Philadelphia keeping it close.