2/08 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Powell at 24 and Leonard at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Clarkson at 21 and Collins at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Sexton (2 straight), Hendricks (47 straight), Williams (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 115 a night to Utah's 122 and the line, where Utah takes 25 free throws a game to the Clippers' 20. Call it the Clippers 118, Utah 111.

2/10 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 107, shooting 54 percent and 43 from three, 24 free throws a game; James at 31 and Reaves at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Knecht (2 straight), Reddish (5 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Clarkson at 23 and Collins at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Sexton (3 straight), Hendricks (48 straight). One day's rest. So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 107 a night to Utah's 121 and the arc, the Lakers at 43 percent from three to Utah's 35. Call it the Lakers 121, Utah 111, the Lakers by 10.

2/12 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 127, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Clarkson at 23 and Collins at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Sexton (4 straight), Hendricks (49 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 110, shooting 54 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; James at 31 and Reaves at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Knecht (3 straight), Reddish (6 straight). One day's rest. So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 110 a night to Utah's 127 and the arc, the Lakers at 41 percent from three to Utah's 33. Call it the Lakers 120, Utah 114.

2/13 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 129, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Clarkson at 23 and Markkanen at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Sexton (5 straight), Hendricks (50 straight), Mykhailiuk (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Powell at 22 and Harden at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 116 a night to Utah's 129 and the glass, where Utah has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-2. Call it the Clippers 117, Utah 116, Utah keeping it close.