3/21 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Coulibaly at 21 and Young at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Reese (2 straight), George (9 straight), Black (4 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 16 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Jal. Williams (15 straight). 2 days' rest. So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 106 a night to Washington's 124 and the glass, where OKC has been minus-2 a night and Washington minus-12. Call it OKC 119, Washington 111.

3/23 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 27 from three, 23 free throws a game; Grimes at 25 and Edgecombe at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Maxey (8 straight), George (24 straight), Embiid (12 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 103, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Jal. Williams (16 straight), Dort (2 straight). One day's rest. So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 34 percent from three to Philadelphia's 27 and the defense, OKC allowing 103 a night to Philadelphia's 112. Call it OKC 114, Philadelphia 112, Philadelphia keeping it close.

3/25 @ 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 112 a night and allowing 105, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Tatum at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Vučević (8 straight), Walsh (5 straight). 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 103, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Holmgren at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Sandfort (2 straight). One day's rest. So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 38 percent from three to Boston's 32. Call it OKC 112, Boston 110, Boston keeping it close.

3/27 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Sandfort (3 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 128, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Buzelis at 20 and Sexton at 16 a game. Without Simons (15 straight), Collins (41 straight). One day's rest. So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 107 a night to Chicago's 128 and the glass, where OKC has been plus-7 a night and Chicago plus-1. Call it OKC 123, Chicago 113, OKC by 10.