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.

2/14 vs WAS — 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 113 a night and allowing 103, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ingram at 22 and Williamson at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Daniels (2 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Avdija at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 103 a night to Washington's 124 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-6 a night and Washington minus-6. Call it New Orleans 120, Washington 110, New Orleans by 10.

2/22 vs HOU — 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 112 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and McCollum at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Daniels (3 straight), Hawkins (2 straight). 7 days' rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brooks at 20 and Ja. Green at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without VanVleet (5 straight), Whitmore (3 straight). 7 days' rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and New Orleans plus-3 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 108 a night to Houston's 117. Call it New Orleans 116, Houston 110.

2/23 vs MIA — 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.