2/23 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Mathurin at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Isa. Jackson (48 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Powell at 27 and Harden at 24 a game. 2 days' rest. So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 14 times a game to Indiana's 9 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-1 a night and Indiana minus-5. Call it Indiana 117, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.

2/24 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Haliburton at 21 and Siakam at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Isa. Jackson (49 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murray at 31 and Jokić at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Watson (9 straight). One day's rest. So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-8 a night and Indiana minus-2 and the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to Indiana's 36. Call it Denver 120, Indiana 119, Indiana keeping it close.

2/26 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Haliburton at 21 and Turner at 19 a game. Without Isa. Jackson (50 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Barrett at 25 and Barnes at 21 a game. Without Poeltl (8 straight), Battle (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Toronto giving it away 15 times a game to Indiana's 11 and the defense, Toronto allowing 115 a night to Indiana's 121. Call it Indiana 120, Toronto 113.

2/28 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Herro at 29 and Wiggins at 21 a game. Without Rozier (2 straight), Jović (2 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Haliburton at 25 and Turner at 19 a game. Without McConnell (2 straight), Isa. Jackson (51 straight). One day's rest. So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 38 percent from three to Miami's 34. Call it Miami 115, Indiana 114, Indiana keeping it close.