3/21 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Avdija at 25 and Simons at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Grant (5 straight), Ayton (16 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 34 and Gordon at 27 a game. Without Jokić (2 straight), Murray (2 straight), Strawther (9 straight). One day's rest. So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-9 a night and Denver plus-1 and the defense, Portland allowing 108 a night to Denver's 118. Call it Portland 116, Denver 113, Denver keeping it close.

3/23 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Avdija at 26 and Simons at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Grant (6 straight), Ayton (17 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 103, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 25 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Brown (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-10 a night and Boston plus-2 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 17 times a game to Boston's 11. Call it Boston 111, Portland 110, Portland keeping it close.

3/25 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Avdija at 24 and Simons at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Grant (7 straight), Ayton (18 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mobley at 19 and Mitchell at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-7 a night and Cleveland minus-5 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 10. Call it Portland 115, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.

3/27 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; DeRozan at 20 and Murray at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Monk (3 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Avdija at 23 and Sharpe at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Grant (8 straight), Ayton (19 straight). One day's rest. So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-7 a night and Sacramento minus-3 and the defense, Portland allowing 111 a night to Sacramento's 119. Call it Sacramento 115, Portland 114, Portland keeping it close.