2/23 @ IND — 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 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Detroit comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Beasley at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Harper Jr. (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Powell at 28 and Harden at 26 a game. Without Powell (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-10 a night and the Clippers minus-2 and the arc, Detroit at 40 percent from three to the Clippers' 36. Call it Detroit 118, the Clippers 113.

2/26 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Giddey at 21 and Vučević at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Dosunmu (2 straight), Williams (3 straight), Smith (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Harden at 25 and Zubac at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Powell (3 straight), Leonard (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-2 a night and Chicago minus-6. Call it Chicago 116, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.

2/28 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 101, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 26 free throws a game; James at 30 and Dončić at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Reddish (12 straight), Morris (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Harden at 27 and Zubac at 15 a game. Without Powell (4 straight). One day's rest. So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 101 a night to the Clippers' 117 and the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-7 a night and the Clippers minus-2. Call it the Lakers 112, the Clippers 109, the Clippers keeping it close.