2/28 vs NOP — 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 115 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 20 and Collier at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without George (6 straight), Kessler (54 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Bey at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Murphy III (4 straight), Missi (5 straight), Peavy (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Utah wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Utah 120, New Orleans 119, New Orleans keeping it close.

3/02 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 19 and Collier at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Kessler (55 straight), Bamba (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Watson (9 straight), Gordon (15 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and Utah minus-10 and the defense, Denver allowing 112 a night to Utah's 125. Call it Denver 121, Utah 116.

3/04 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Maxey at 31 and Edgecombe at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without George (14 straight), Embiid (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 124, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 26 free throws a game; Collier at 17 and Bailey at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Kessler (56 straight), Bamba (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 37 percent from three to Utah's 30 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 117 a night to Utah's 124. Call it Philadelphia 121, Utah 116.

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.