2/23 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Williamson at 27 and McCollum at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Daniels (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 102, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Herro at 21 and Adebayo at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Butler III (3 straight), Rozier (2 straight), Richardson (2 straight). 8 days' rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 102 a night to New Orleans's 108. Call it New Orleans 112, Miami 111, Miami keeping it close.

2/26 @ 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 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 29 and Sabonis at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Ellis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Herro at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Rozier (3 straight), Richardson (3 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 102 a night to Sacramento's 117. Call it Sacramento 114, Miami 113, Miami keeping it close.

2/27 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 95 a night and allowing 112, shooting 41 percent and 26 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grant at 19 and Ayton at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Sharpe (19 straight), Brogdon (7 straight), Henderson (2 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 103, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Adebayo at 23 and Herro at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Rozier (4 straight), Richardson (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Miami at 38 percent from three to Portland's 26 and the defense, Miami allowing 103 a night to Portland's 112. Call it Miami 111, Portland 106.

2/29 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Jokić at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 100, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Herro at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Herro (2 straight), Richardson (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Miami at 42 percent from three to Denver's 35 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and Miami minus-1. Call it Denver 111, Miami 109, Miami keeping it close.