3/16 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 32 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Murphy III at 22 a game. Without Poole (7 straight), McGowens (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Flagg at 19 and Gafford at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Gafford (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the line, where New Orleans takes 32 free throws a game to Dallas's 23 and the turnovers, Dallas giving it away 16 times a game to New Orleans's 12. Call it New Orleans 122, Dallas 113.

3/18 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 125, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Flagg at 20 and Marshall at 19 a game. Without Gafford (3 straight), Thompson (2 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 26 and Johnson at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Atlanta allowing 107 a night to Dallas's 125 and the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-8 a night and Dallas plus-3. Call it Atlanta 119, Dallas 114.

3/21 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Flagg at 21 and Washington at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Mathurin at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Mathurin (2 straight), Batum (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-7 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 115 a night to Dallas's 127. Call it Dallas 117, the Clippers 116, the Clippers keeping it close.

3/23 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 132, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Flagg at 22 and Marshall at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Williams (2 straight), Poulakidas (2 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Melton at 16 and Payton II at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Ste. Curry (21 straight), Moody (10 straight), Horford (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 118 a night to Dallas's 132 and the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 19 times a game to Dallas's 14. Call it Dallas 118, Golden State 117, Golden State keeping it close.