2/05 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Barnes at 21 and Barrett at 17 a game. Without Mitchell (2 straight), Lawson (7 straight), Battle (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 28 and Bane at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Smart (21 straight), Williams Jr. (35 straight). One day's rest. So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Toronto allowing 107 a night to Memphis's 119 and the glass, where Memphis has been plus-4 a night and Toronto minus-3. Call it Memphis 116, Toronto 115, Toronto keeping it close.

2/08 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 28 and Bane at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Bane (2 straight). 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 38 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 14 a night. Without Wallace (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 108 a night to Memphis's 119 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 118, Memphis 117, Memphis keeping it close.

2/11 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 127, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 32 and Beal at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Durant (3 straight), Beal (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 28 and Morant at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest. So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-6 a night and Phoenix minus-10 and the defense, Memphis allowing 116 a night to Phoenix's 127. Call it Memphis 122, Phoenix 116.

2/12 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Powell at 24 and Harden at 18 a game. 3 days' rest. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 29 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 27 and Morant at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-11 a night and the Clippers minus-2 and the line, where Memphis takes 29 free throws a game to the Clippers' 20. Call it Memphis 116, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.