2/20 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. OKC comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Joe at 16 and Holmgren at 15 a game. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (5 straight), Mitchell (11 straight). 7 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Claxton at 18 and Traore at 15 a game. Without Claxton (2 straight), Johnson (18 straight), Minott (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: OKC wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it OKC 117, Brooklyn 107, OKC by 10.

2/22 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 122, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Johnson at 24 and McCollum at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 20 and Traore at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Claxton (3 straight), Saraf (2 straight), Johnson (19 straight). One day's rest. So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 112 a night to Atlanta's 122 and the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-0 a night and Atlanta minus-6. Call it Atlanta 115, Brooklyn 112, Brooklyn keeping it close.

2/24 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 112, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 18 and Traore at 14 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Williams (2 straight), Saraf (3 straight), Johnson (20 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 31 free throws a game; Marshall at 18 and Middleton at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Flagg (3 straight), Nembhard (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 112 a night to Dallas's 127 and the line, where Dallas takes 31 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 24. Call it Brooklyn 115, Dallas 114, Dallas keeping it close.

2/26 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 114, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 20 and Traore at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Williams (3 straight), Saraf (4 straight), Johnson (21 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Fox at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-1 a night and Brooklyn minus-11 and the arc, San Antonio at 38 percent from three to Brooklyn's 32. Call it San Antonio 115, Brooklyn 109.