2/05 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 52 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Westbrook (2 straight), Watson (2 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murphy III at 29 and Williamson at 26 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (12 straight), Payton (28 straight), Theis (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and New Orleans minus-5 and the arc, New Orleans at 38 percent from three to Denver's 32. Call it Denver 122, New Orleans 113.

2/08 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and Monk at 19 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murphy III at 30 and Williamson at 26 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones (13 straight), Boston (2 straight), Payton (29 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 39 percent from three to Sacramento's 31. Call it Sacramento 119, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.

2/10 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Wiggins at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 16 a night. Without Dort (2 straight), Wallace (4 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 129, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 32 and Williamson at 28 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones (14 straight), Payton (30 straight). One day's rest. So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where OKC has been plus-16 a night and New Orleans minus-6 and the defense, OKC allowing 107 a night to New Orleans's 129. Call it OKC 126, New Orleans 109, OKC by 17.

2/12 vs SAC — 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 113 a night and allowing 129, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murphy III at 30 and Williamson at 25 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Jones (15 straight), Payton (31 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and LaVine at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-8 a night and New Orleans minus-4 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 120 a night to New Orleans's 129. Call it Sacramento 119, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.