1/27 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Toronto comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Barrett at 20 and Barnes at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Quickley (6 straight), Agbaji (4 straight), Mogbo (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; McCollum at 23 and Murray at 22 a game. Without Jones (8 straight), Boston (4 straight), Payton (24 straight). One day's rest. So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the defense, Toronto allowing 107 a night to New Orleans's 124 and the glass, where Toronto has been plus-3 a night and New Orleans minus-3. Call it Toronto 118, New Orleans 112.

1/29 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 30 free throws a game; Williamson at 28 and McCollum at 25 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (9 straight), Boston (5 straight), Payton (25 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Irving at 26 and Washington at 20 a game. Without Marshall (4 straight), Lively II (7 straight). One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-3 a night and New Orleans minus-5 and the defense, Dallas allowing 114 a night to New Orleans's 123. Call it Dallas 117, New Orleans 114, New Orleans keeping it close.

1/31 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 28 free throws a game; Williamson at 29 and Murray at 25 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Jones (10 straight), Payton (26 straight), Robinson-Earl (2 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and Porziņģis at 23 a game. Without Horford (2 straight), Hauser (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 110 a night to New Orleans's 126 and the glass, where Boston has been minus-3 a night and New Orleans minus-12. Call it Boston 118, New Orleans 112.

2/03 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 124, shooting 52 percent and 31 from three, 17 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Jokić at 25 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 126, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 29 and Murphy III at 25 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (11 straight), Hawkins (2 straight), Payton (27 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where New Orleans takes 26 free throws a game to Denver's 17 and the glass, where Denver has been minus-0 a night and New Orleans minus-5. Call it Denver 121, New Orleans 116.