2/11 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bane at 20 and Banchero at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Bitadze (2 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 13 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 23 and Rollins at 22 a game. Without Gia. Antetokounmpo (7 straight), Prince (43 straight). One day's rest. So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the line, where Orlando takes 25 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 13 and the arc, Milwaukee at 41 percent from three to Orlando's 32. Call it Orlando 115, Milwaukee 111, Milwaukee keeping it close.

2/12 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Joe at 17 and Holmgren at 15 a game. Without Gilgeous-Alexander (4 straight), Mitchell (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 15 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 22 and Rollins at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Gia. Antetokounmpo (8 straight), Prince (44 straight), Trent Jr. (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-7 a night and OKC plus-0 and the line, where OKC takes 23 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 15. Call it OKC 119, Milwaukee 110.

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.