2/20 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Murphy III at 27 and Williamson at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Murray (26 straight), Poole (9 straight), Jordan (52 straight). 8 days' rest. Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 14 free throws a game; Rollins at 21 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Rollins (2 straight), Gia. Antetokounmpo (9 straight), Prince (45 straight). 7 days' rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-6 a night and New Orleans minus-12 and the line, where New Orleans takes 22 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 14. Call it New Orleans 116, Milwaukee 114, Milwaukee keeping it close.

2/22 vs TOR — 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 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 15 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 21 and Rollins at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Gia. Antetokounmpo (10 straight), Turner (2 straight), Prince (46 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Ingram at 23 and Quickley at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the line, where Toronto takes 24 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 15 and the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-5 a night and Toronto minus-1. Call it Milwaukee 113, Toronto 112, Toronto keeping it close.

2/24 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 21 and Rollins at 21 a game. Without Gia. Antetokounmpo (11 straight), Prince (47 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Adebayo at 20 and Powell at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. 2 days' rest. So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Miami takes 28 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 18 and the glass, where Miami has been plus-9 a night and Milwaukee plus-3. Call it Miami 117, Milwaukee 114, Milwaukee keeping it close.

2/25 vs CLE — 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 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Rollins at 23 and Porter Jr. at 22 a game. Without Gia. Antetokounmpo (12 straight), Prince (48 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Allen at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Cleveland takes 27 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 17 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 105 a night to Milwaukee's 112. Call it Cleveland 115, Milwaukee 114, Milwaukee keeping it close.