2/25 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jerome at 18 and Jackson at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Aldama (7 straight), Coward (4 straight), Anderson (2 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Melton at 19 and Moody at 18 a game. Without Ste. Curry (8 straight), Porziņģis (2 straight), Williams (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been minus-2 a night and Memphis minus-11 and the line, where Memphis takes 24 free throws a game to Golden State's 16. Call it Memphis 118, Golden State 116, Golden State keeping it close.

2/28 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Melton at 21 and Moody at 18 a game. Without Ste. Curry (9 straight), Porziņģis (3 straight), Williams (4 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 32 and James at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest. So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 24 free throws a game to Golden State's 16. Call it Golden State 117, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.

3/02 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 14 free throws a game; Melton at 19 and Moody at 17 a game. Without Ste. Curry (10 straight), Porziņģis (4 straight), Cryer (13 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 29 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Mathurin at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 29 free throws a game to Golden State's 14 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 112 a night to Golden State's 118. Call it Golden State 116, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.

3/05 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Sengun at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Smith Jr. (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Podziemski at 17 and Moody at 17 a game. Without Ste. Curry (11 straight), Porziņģis (5 straight), Cryer (14 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Golden State plus-0 and the defense, Houston allowing 109 a night to Golden State's 117. Call it Houston 117, Golden State 111.