2/19 @ 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 111 a night and allowing 129, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Riley at 15 and Vukcevic at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Whitmore (32 straight). 7 days' rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Walker at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Toppin (52 straight). 7 days' rest. So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 120 a night to Washington's 129 and the glass, where Indiana has been minus-7 a night and Washington minus-12. Call it Indiana 118, Washington 117, Washington keeping it close.

2/20 @ 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 113 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Champagnie at 15 and Vukcevic at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Sarr (2 straight), Whitmore (33 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Walker at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Siakam (2 straight), Toppin (53 straight), McConnell (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Indiana has been minus-6 a night and Washington minus-11 and the defense, Indiana allowing 117 a night to Washington's 124. Call it Washington 117, Indiana 116, Indiana keeping it close.

2/22 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Walker at 17 and Que. Jackson at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Siakam (3 straight), Toppin (54 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 128, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Flagg at 24 and Marshall at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Flagg (2 straight), Nembhard (4 straight). One day's rest. So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Indiana giving it away 17 times a game to Dallas's 12 and the line, where Dallas takes 28 free throws a game to Indiana's 20. Call it Indiana 119, Dallas 116, Dallas keeping it close.

2/24 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Walker at 18 and Nembhard at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Nesmith (2 straight), Thompson (2 straight), Toppin (55 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 125, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Maxey at 31 and Edgecombe at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without George (10 straight), Embiid (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the line, where Philadelphia takes 30 free throws a game to Indiana's 22 and the arc, Indiana at 39 percent from three to Philadelphia's 34. Call it Indiana 120, Philadelphia 116, Philadelphia keeping it close.