2/26 @ WAS — 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 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Poole at 22 and Kispert at 13 a game. Without Sarr (2 straight), Johnson (3 straight), Jones (5 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Simons at 21 and Avdija at 18 a game. Without Ayton (4 straight), Thybulle (58 straight), Williams III (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Portland wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Portland 115, Washington 114, Washington keeping it close.

2/28 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 19 and Williams at 13 a game. Without Thomas (24 straight), Russell (3 straight), Clowney (11 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Simons at 21 and Sharpe at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Ayton (5 straight), Thybulle (59 straight), Williams III (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Portland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 27 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 20 and the arc, Portland at 36 percent from three to Brooklyn's 32. Call it Portland 112, Brooklyn 110, Brooklyn keeping it close.

3/02 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 105, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Mobley at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest. Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sharpe at 21 and Simons at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Ayton (6 straight), Thybulle (60 straight), Williams III (4 straight). One day's rest. So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-12 a night and Portland plus-1 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 17 times a game to Cleveland's 13. Call it Cleveland 118, Portland 111.

3/03 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Oubre Jr. at 19 and Maxey at 19 a game. Without Okeke (8 straight), Butler (2 straight), Lowry (7 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 30 free throws a game; Sharpe at 22 and Simons at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Grant (2 straight), Ayton (7 straight), Thybulle (61 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Portland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-4 a night and Philadelphia minus-3 and the arc, Portland at 38 percent from three to Philadelphia's 31. Call it Portland 116, Philadelphia 113, Philadelphia keeping it close.