3/21 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sarr at 21 and George at 13 a game. Without Coulibaly (5 straight), Brogdon (14 straight), Holmes (2 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 105, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Banchero at 31 and Wagner at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 105 a night to Washington's 122 and the glass, where Washington has been minus-2 a night and Orlando minus-8. Call it Orlando 111, Washington 110, Washington keeping it close.

3/22 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 16 free throws a game; Towns at 26 and Bridges at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Brunson (7 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sarr at 23 and Vukcevic at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Coulibaly (6 straight), Brogdon (15 straight), Holmes (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 108 a night to Washington's 122 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 15 times a game to New York's 12. Call it New York 118, Washington 109.

3/24 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Sarr at 21 and Poole at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Coulibaly (7 straight), Brogdon (16 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 118, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Barnes at 21 and Quickley at 19 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Rhoden (5 straight), Boucher (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been plus-1 a night and Washington minus-5 and the line, where Toronto takes 22 free throws a game to Washington's 17. Call it Washington 115, Toronto 112, Toronto keeping it close.

3/26 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 130, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Grimes at 31 and Edwards at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Maxey (12 straight), Oubre Jr. (7 straight), Walker IV (2 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 119, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sarr at 17 and Poole at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Coulibaly (8 straight), Brogdon (17 straight). One day's rest. So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the defense, Washington allowing 119 a night to Philadelphia's 130 and the arc, Philadelphia at 37 percent from three to Washington's 32. Call it Philadelphia 117, Washington 114, Washington keeping it close.