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.

2/13 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 112 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and Murphy III at 26 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Jones (16 straight), Boston (2 straight), Payton (32 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; DeRozan at 24 and LaVine at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. 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-8 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 119 a night to New Orleans's 130. Call it Sacramento 119, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.

2/21 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Irving at 26 and Thompson at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Washington (3 straight), Davis (3 straight), Lively II (16 straight). 7 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 131, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 30 and McCollum at 27 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Jones (17 straight), Olynyk (2 straight), Brooks Jr. (2 straight). 7 days' rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 115 a night to New Orleans's 131 and the arc, Dallas at 42 percent from three to New Orleans's 36. Call it Dallas 123, New Orleans 113, Dallas by 10.

2/23 vs SAS — 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 115 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 30 and McCollum at 26 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones (18 straight), Brooks Jr. (3 straight), Boston (4 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Fox at 23 and Wembanyama at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 117 a night to New Orleans's 125 and the line, where New Orleans takes 26 free throws a game to San Antonio's 21. Call it San Antonio 117, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.