3/14 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Boston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; White at 22 and Brown at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Vučević (3 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 134, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sarr at 17 and Riley at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Reese (2 straight), George (5 straight), Whitmore (44 straight). One day's rest. So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 109 a night to Washington's 134 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 17 times a game to Boston's 11. Call it Boston 121, Washington 111, Boston by 10.

3/16 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 131, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Coulibaly at 15 and Sarr at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Reese (3 straight), George (6 straight), Whitmore (45 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Santos at 18 and Podziemski at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Ste. Curry (17 straight), Green (2 straight), Moody (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 118 a night to Washington's 131 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 17 times a game to Golden State's 12. Call it Washington 119, Golden State 118, Golden State keeping it close.

3/17 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 132, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Young at 16 and Coulibaly at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without George (7 straight), Black (2 straight), Whitmore (46 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Detroit comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Duren at 23 and Cunningham at 21 a game. One day's rest. So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Detroit allowing 112 a night to Washington's 132 and the glass, where Detroit has been plus-3 a night and Washington minus-8. Call it Detroit 123, Washington 114.

3/19 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 130, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Coulibaly at 18 and Sarr at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without George (8 straight), Black (3 straight), Sarr (2 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 111, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 26 free throws a game; Duren at 25 and Cunningham at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Stewart (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-8 a night and Washington minus-11 and the defense, Detroit allowing 111 a night to Washington's 130. Call it Detroit 124, Washington 114, Detroit by 10.