3/05 @ WAS — 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 104 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Poole at 22 and Coulibaly at 13 a game. Without Poole (2 straight), Jones (8 straight), Brogdon (6 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kessler at 16 and Filipowski at 15 a game. Without Markkanen (5 straight), Collins (2 straight), Clarkson (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the defense, Washington allowing 109 a night to Utah's 122 and the arc, Utah at 37 percent from three to Washington's 33. Call it Washington 115, Utah 112, Utah keeping it close.

3/07 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 29 from three, 23 free throws a game; Barrett at 20 and Barnes at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Agbaji (2 straight), Battle (7 straight), Boucher (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Filipowski at 16 and Kessler at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Markkanen (6 straight), Collins (3 straight), Clarkson (4 straight). One day's rest. So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the defense, Toronto allowing 112 a night to Utah's 124 and the arc, Utah at 36 percent from three to Toronto's 29. Call it Toronto 116, Utah 112, Utah keeping it close.

3/09 @ 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 119, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Oubre Jr. at 24 and Grimes at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Maxey (2 straight), Okeke (11 straight), Lowry (10 straight). 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Filipowski at 18 and George at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Markkanen (7 straight), Collins (4 straight), Clarkson (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-7 a night and Philadelphia minus-7 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 19 times a game to Philadelphia's 13. Call it Philadelphia 117, Utah 114, Utah keeping it close.

3/10 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 34 and Brown at 27 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Porziņģis (5 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 126, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; George at 21 and Filipowski at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Markkanen (8 straight), Collins (5 straight), Clarkson (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 110 a night to Utah's 126 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 19 times a game to Boston's 11. Call it Boston 122, Utah 110, Boston by 12.