3/11 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 32 free throws a game; Mitchell at 23 and Mobley at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Thomas at 21 and C. Johnson at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Evbuomwan (6 straight), Etienne (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-1 a night and Brooklyn minus-7 and the line, where Cleveland takes 32 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 24. Call it Cleveland 120, Brooklyn 108, Cleveland by 12.

3/13 @ 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 118 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; White at 29 and Giddey at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Ball (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Thomas at 22 and C. Johnson at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Evbuomwan (7 straight), Etienne (4 straight). One day's rest. So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-8 a night and Brooklyn minus-8 and the arc, Brooklyn at 36 percent from three to Chicago's 31. Call it Chicago 116, Brooklyn 113, Brooklyn keeping it close.

3/15 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Thomas at 22 and C. Johnson at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Evbuomwan (8 straight), Etienne (5 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 16 free throws a game; Tatum at 34 and Brown at 22 a game. Without Porziņģis (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been minus-0 a night and Brooklyn minus-6 and the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to Brooklyn's 112. Call it Boston 111, Brooklyn 109, Brooklyn keeping it close.

3/16 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Thomas at 22 and C. Johnson at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Evbuomwan (9 straight), Clowney (2 straight), Etienne (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Young at 28 and LeVert at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Johnson (23 straight), Capela (2 straight), Mathews (6 straight). One day's rest. So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-5 a night and Brooklyn minus-2 and the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 14 times a game to Brooklyn's 10. Call it Atlanta 114, Brooklyn 113, Brooklyn keeping it close.