11/20 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 33 and Garland at 21 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 109, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Murphy III at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without McCollum (11 straight), Murray (14 straight), Jones (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 40 percent from three to New Orleans's 32 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-8 a night and Cleveland plus-1. Call it Cleveland 119, New Orleans 106, Cleveland by 13.

11/22 vs GSW — 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 96 a night and allowing 113, shooting 41 percent and 30 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Murphy III at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without McCollum (12 straight), Murray (15 straight), Jones (12 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Wiggins at 18 a game. Without Post (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 39 percent from three to New Orleans's 30 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-6 a night and Golden State plus-1. Call it Golden State 115, New Orleans 106.

11/25 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Mathurin at 19 a game. Without Nembhard (9 straight), Nesmith (11 straight), Sheppard (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 114, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Murphy III at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without McCollum (13 straight), Murray (16 straight), Jones (13 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 37 percent from three to New Orleans's 32 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 114 a night to Indiana's 120. Call it Indiana 116, New Orleans 110.

11/27 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ingram at 22 and Murphy III at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Murray (17 straight), Jones (14 straight), Williamson (9 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Barrett at 26 and Barnes at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Quickley (7 straight), Walter (9 straight). One day's rest. So: Toronto wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been plus-8 a night and New Orleans minus-4 and the line, where Toronto takes 26 free throws a game to New Orleans's 21. Call it Toronto 113, New Orleans 111, New Orleans keeping it close.