11/22 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 25 and VanVleet at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Thompson (8 straight), Whitmore (6 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 114, shooting 42 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Bane at 27 and Aldama at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Morant (13 straight), Smart (2 straight), Jackson (9 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 107 a night to Memphis's 114 and the arc, Memphis at 37 percent from three to Houston's 32. Call it Houston 112, Memphis 108, Memphis keeping it close.

11/24 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 39 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bane at 24 and Jackson Jr. at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Morant (14 straight), Smart (3 straight), Kennard (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 120, shooting 52 percent and 46 from three, 29 free throws a game; Durant at 34 and Booker at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Beal (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 46 percent from three to Memphis's 33 and the defense, Memphis allowing 111 a night to Phoenix's 120. Call it Phoenix 117, Memphis 113, Memphis keeping it close.

11/26 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 113, shooting 40 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Bane at 20 and Aldama at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Morant (15 straight), Smart (4 straight), Kennard (4 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and Towns at 25 a game. Without McDaniels (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Minnesota takes 28 free throws a game to Memphis's 21 and the glass, where Minnesota has been minus-1 a night and Memphis minus-6. Call it Minnesota 112, Memphis 109, Memphis keeping it close.

11/29 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 110, shooting 41 percent and 30 from three, 24 free throws a game; Bane at 20 and Jackson Jr. at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Morant (16 straight), Smart (5 straight), Kennard (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Clarkson at 14 a game. Without Markkanen (2 straight), Hendricks (16 straight), Sensabaugh (16 straight). One day's rest. So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 17 times a game to Memphis's 11 and the defense, Memphis allowing 110 a night to Utah's 121. Call it Memphis 113, Utah 111, Utah keeping it close.