3/08 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and James at 21 a game. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 98, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 20 and Anunoby at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without McBride (18 straight). One day's rest. So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-13 a night and the Lakers minus-1 and the defense, New York allowing 98 a night to the Lakers' 109. Call it the Lakers 114, New York 113, New York keeping it close.

3/09 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 112, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and Mathurin at 16 a game. Without Collins (4 straight), Bogdanović (5 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 100, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 20 and Towns at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without McBride (19 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-12 a night and the Clippers plus-3 and the defense, New York allowing 100 a night to the Clippers' 112. Call it the Clippers 114, New York 111, New York keeping it close.

3/11 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; George at 26 and Collier at 18 a game. Without Kessler (60 straight), Collier (2 straight), Mykhailiuk (4 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Towns at 23 and Brunson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without McBride (20 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-13 a night and Utah plus-1 and the defense, New York allowing 107 a night to Utah's 115. Call it New York 117, Utah 113, Utah keeping it close.

3/13 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 25 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Nembhard at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Siakam (2 straight), McConnell (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Towns at 23 and Anunoby at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without McBride (21 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-11 a night and Indiana minus-7 and the defense, New York allowing 112 a night to Indiana's 125. Call it New York 119, Indiana 112.