3/23 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Garland at 26 a game. They have lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Mathurin (3 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Rollins at 20 and Portis at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Porter Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 117, Milwaukee 112.

3/25 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Avdija at 23 and Camara at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Grant (2 straight), Sharpe (21 straight), Love (17 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Rollins at 19 and Portis at 18 a game. Without Porter Jr. (3 straight), Ryan (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-7 a night and Milwaukee minus-2 and the defense, Portland allowing 109 a night to Milwaukee's 122. Call it Portland 119, Milwaukee 111.

3/28 vs SAS — 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 103 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Rollins at 22 and Portis at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Porter Jr. (4 straight), Kuzma (2 straight). 2 days' rest. San Antonio comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 106, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 23 and Johnson at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 15 a night. 2 days' rest. So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-15 a night and Milwaukee minus-6 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 106 a night to Milwaukee's 123. Call it San Antonio 120, Milwaukee 109, San Antonio by 11.

3/29 vs LAC — 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 99 a night and allowing 124, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 16 free throws a game; Rollins at 20 and Dieng at 12 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Porter Jr. (5 straight), Kuzma (3 straight), Portis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and Garland at 28 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Bogdanović (2 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 108 a night to Milwaukee's 124 and the turnovers, Milwaukee giving it away 18 times a game to the Clippers' 12. Call it the Clippers 118, Milwaukee 108, the Clippers by 10.