2/07 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 31 and Harden at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Tucker (33 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ingram at 28 and Williamson at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 44 percent from three to New Orleans's 34 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-1. Call it the Clippers 119, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.

2/09 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; James at 24 and Davis at 23 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Reddish (8 straight), Vanderbilt (3 straight), Vincent (25 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 107, shooting 51 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and Williamson at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-5 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 107 a night to the Lakers' 116. Call it New Orleans 117, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.

2/10 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Grant at 31 and Simons at 25 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Sharpe (14 straight), Brogdon (2 straight), Rupert (4 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Ingram at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Marshall (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-7 a night and Portland minus-3. Call it New Orleans 116, Portland 114, Portland keeping it close.

2/12 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 15 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 28 and Jackson at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Bane (15 straight), LaRavia (14 straight), Williams (7 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Ingram at 23 a game. One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-0 a night and Memphis minus-9 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 108 a night to Memphis's 122. Call it New Orleans 116, Memphis 109.