2/21 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Simons at 17 and Sexton at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Collins (25 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 103, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Cunningham at 29 and Reed at 14 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Duren (2 straight), Stewart (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Detroit allowing 103 a night to Chicago's 123 and the glass, where Detroit has been plus-7 a night and Chicago minus-5. Call it Detroit 118, Chicago 111.

2/22 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 124, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Buzelis at 15 and Simons at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Collins (26 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 20 a game. Without McBride (11 straight), Clarkson (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 109 a night to Chicago's 124 and the turnovers, Chicago giving it away 18 times a game to New York's 12. Call it New York 120, Chicago 113.

2/24 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 118, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Simons at 14 and Buzelis at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Collins (27 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 42 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Knueppel at 23 and Miller at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Bridges (4 straight), Diabaté (4 straight), White (7 straight). One day's rest. So: Charlotte wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-7 a night and Chicago minus-6 and the arc, Charlotte at 40 percent from three to Chicago's 34. Call it Charlotte 115, Chicago 113, Chicago keeping it close.

2/26 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 119, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Buzelis at 16 and Okoro at 12 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Simons (2 straight), Collins (28 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Holiday at 20 and Clingan at 16 a game. Without Sharpe (7 straight), Love (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-1 a night and Chicago minus-7 and the line, where Portland takes 24 free throws a game to Chicago's 19. Call it Chicago 117, Portland 116, Portland keeping it close.