3/05 @ WAS — 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 109 a night and allowing 126, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Riley at 15 and Hardy at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Sarr (9 straight), Gill (2 straight), Whitmore (40 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 29 from three, 27 free throws a game; George at 28 and Collier at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Kessler (57 straight), Love (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the arc, Washington at 37 percent from three to Utah's 29 and the line, where Utah takes 27 free throws a game to Washington's 19. Call it Washington 119, Utah 117, Utah keeping it close.

3/07 @ 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 101 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Kuzma at 15 and Portis at 13 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Prince (53 straight). 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; George at 28 and Bailey at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Kessler (58 straight), Mykhailiuk (2 straight), Love (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Utah wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Utah takes 24 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 17 and the turnovers, Milwaukee giving it away 16 times a game to Utah's 12. Call it Utah 116, Milwaukee 115, Milwaukee keeping it close.

3/09 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; George at 26 and Collier at 19 a game. Without Kessler (59 straight), Mykhailiuk (3 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Podziemski at 19 and Santos at 14 a game. Without Ste. Curry (13 straight), Moody (2 straight), Richard (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the line, where Utah takes 25 free throws a game to Golden State's 16. Call it Utah 116, Golden State 115, Golden State keeping it close.

3/11 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; George at 26 and Collier at 18 a game. Without Kessler (60 straight), Collier (2 straight), Mykhailiuk (4 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Towns at 23 and Brunson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without McBride (20 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-13 a night and Utah plus-1 and the defense, New York allowing 107 a night to Utah's 115. Call it New York 117, Utah 113, Utah keeping it close.