2/19 vs IND — 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 vs IND — 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 CHA — 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 114 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 21 free throws a game; Vukcevic at 14 and Watkins at 13 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Sarr (3 straight), Whitmore (34 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 42 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Knueppel at 22 and Miller at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Bridges (3 straight), Diabaté (3 straight), White (6 straight). One day's rest. So: Charlotte wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-8 a night and Washington minus-8 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 112 a night to Washington's 124. Call it Charlotte 117, Washington 114, Washington keeping it close.

2/24 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Johnson at 23 and McCollum at 23 a game. One day's rest. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Hardy at 13 and Vukcevic at 13 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Sarr (4 straight), Whitmore (35 straight). One day's rest. So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-8 and the line, where Atlanta takes 27 free throws a game to Washington's 18. Call it Atlanta 120, Washington 114.