3/17 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 21 a game. Without Watson (16 straight), Pickett (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 26 from three, 27 free throws a game; Grimes at 23 and Edgecombe at 16 a game. Without Maxey (5 straight), George (21 straight), Embiid (9 straight). One day's rest. So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 37 percent from three to Philadelphia's 26 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 115 a night to Denver's 124. Call it Denver 120, Philadelphia 116, Philadelphia keeping it close.

3/19 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; DeRozan at 24 and Raynaud at 17 a game. Without Murray (10 straight), LaVine (17 straight), Hunter (17 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 24 from three, 26 free throws a game; Grimes at 22 and Edgecombe at 15 a game. Without Maxey (6 straight), George (22 straight), Embiid (10 straight). One day's rest. So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 36 percent from three to Philadelphia's 24 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-3. Call it Sacramento 116, Philadelphia 115, Philadelphia keeping it close.

3/21 @ UTA — 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 116 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 31 and Bailey at 20 a game. Without Mykhailiuk (9 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 27 from three, 22 free throws a game; Grimes at 22 and Edwards at 19 a game. Without Maxey (7 straight), George (23 straight), Embiid (11 straight). One day's rest. So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Utah at 39 percent from three to Philadelphia's 27 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 115 a night to Utah's 123. Call it Philadelphia 118, Utah 117, Utah keeping it close.

3/23 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 27 from three, 23 free throws a game; Grimes at 25 and Edgecombe at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Maxey (8 straight), George (24 straight), Embiid (12 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 103, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Jal. Williams (16 straight), Dort (2 straight). One day's rest. So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 34 percent from three to Philadelphia's 27 and the defense, OKC allowing 103 a night to Philadelphia's 112. Call it OKC 114, Philadelphia 112, Philadelphia keeping it close.