3/07 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 30 and McDaniels at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Conley (3 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 26 and Bane at 22 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (8 straight). One day's rest. So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 38 percent from three to Orlando's 33 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-3 a night and Orlando minus-2. Call it Minnesota 115, Orlando 110.

3/08 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gia. Antetokounmpo at 23 and Kuzma at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Porter Jr. (2 straight), Prince (54 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Banchero at 24 and Bane at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Fra. Wagner (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-1 a night and Milwaukee minus-6 and the defense, Orlando allowing 107 a night to Milwaukee's 117. Call it Orlando 114, Milwaukee 109.

3/11 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Banchero at 27 and Bane at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Fra. Wagner (10 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Harden at 20 and Mobley at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Allen (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-4 a night and Cleveland minus-5 and the defense, Orlando allowing 102 a night to Cleveland's 109. Call it Orlando 115, Cleveland 110.

3/12 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Orlando comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 31 free throws a game; Banchero at 27 and Bane at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Fra. Wagner (11 straight), Black (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 132, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Riley at 16 and Johnson at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without George (4 straight), Watkins (4 straight), Whitmore (43 straight). One day's rest. So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 106 a night to Washington's 132 and the glass, where Orlando has been plus-7 a night and Washington minus-9. Call it Orlando 124, Washington 112, Orlando by 12.