2/20 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 97, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 17 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 16 and K. Johnson at 14 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Thomas (20 straight), Clowney (7 straight). 7 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Garland at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Wade (10 straight), Okoro (14 straight). 7 days' rest. So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 97 a night to Cleveland's 113 and the arc, Cleveland at 37 percent from three to Brooklyn's 29. Call it Cleveland 112, Brooklyn 109, Brooklyn keeping it close.

2/22 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 20 free throws a game; Embiid at 23 and Maxey at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Okeke (4 straight), Lowry (3 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 100, shooting 42 percent and 28 from three, 18 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 17 and Watford at 14 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Thomas (21 straight), Clowney (8 straight). One day's rest. So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-5 a night and Philadelphia minus-10 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 100 a night to Philadelphia's 118. Call it Philadelphia 109, Brooklyn 108, Brooklyn keeping it close.

2/24 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Poole at 21 and Kispert at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Johnson (2 straight), Jones (4 straight), Brogdon (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 97, shooting 44 percent and 26 from three, 17 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 18 and Watford at 14 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Thomas (22 straight), Evbuomwan (2 straight), Clowney (9 straight). One day's rest. So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 97 a night to Washington's 121 and the arc, Washington at 33 percent from three to Brooklyn's 26. Call it Brooklyn 111, Washington 107, Washington keeping it close.

2/26 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 101, shooting 43 percent and 28 from three, 18 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 18 and Watford at 14 a game. Without Thomas (23 straight), Russell (2 straight), Evbuomwan (3 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. One day's rest. So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 38 percent from three to Brooklyn's 28 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 101 a night to OKC's 116. Call it OKC 111, Brooklyn 108, Brooklyn keeping it close.