2/27 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 14 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 22 and Rollins at 22 a game. Without Gia. Antetokounmpo (13 straight), Prince (49 straight), Trent Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Towns at 22 and Brunson at 20 a game. Without McBride (13 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the line, where New York takes 23 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 14 and the arc, Milwaukee at 39 percent from three to New York's 34. Call it Milwaukee 114, New York 113, New York keeping it close.

3/01 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 24 and Towns at 21 a game. Without McBride (14 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 18 and Castle at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 2 days' rest. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, San Antonio at 41 percent from three to New York's 35. Call it New York 114, San Antonio 113, San Antonio keeping it close.

3/03 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Ingram at 22 and Quickley at 22 a game. 2 days' rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 100, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 22 and Towns at 19 a game. Without McBride (15 straight). One day's rest. So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 100 a night to Toronto's 109 and the line, where Toronto takes 24 free throws a game to New York's 19. Call it Toronto 112, New York 110, New York keeping it close.

3/04 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 98, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 23 and Towns at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without McBride (16 straight), Clarkson (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wallace at 16 and McCain at 14 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Jal. Williams (8 straight), Mitchell (18 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 98 a night to OKC's 109 and the glass, where New York has been plus-7 a night and OKC plus-0. Call it New York 112, OKC 110, OKC keeping it close.