1/03 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 0-5 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 125, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Murphy III at 26 and McCollum at 25 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Williamson (25 straight), Alvarado (23 straight), Payton (12 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Poole at 29 and Brogdon at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Holmes (4 straight). One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New Orleans 118, Washington 116, Washington keeping it close.

1/05 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Poole at 27 and Brogdon at 16 a game. Without Holmes (5 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 30 and Murphy III at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Williamson (26 straight), Payton (13 straight), Matković (14 straight). One day's rest. So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Washington has been minus-1 a night and New Orleans minus-6. Call it Washington 119, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.

1/07 vs MIN — 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 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 32 and Murphy III at 25 a game. Without Williamson (27 straight), Green (2 straight), Payton (14 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Reid at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-5 a night and New Orleans minus-3 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 16 times a game to New Orleans's 12. Call it New Orleans 114, Minnesota 111, Minnesota keeping it close.

1/08 vs POR — 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 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 27 and Murphy III at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Green (3 straight), Payton (15 straight), Matković (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Simons at 27 and Avdija at 18 a game. Without Grant (4 straight), Thybulle (35 straight), Williams III (3 straight). One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-3 a night and New Orleans minus-5 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 18 times a game to New Orleans's 12. Call it New Orleans 114, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.