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.

1/10 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Maxey at 24 and George at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Embiid (2 straight), Lowry (2 straight), Drummond (2 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 25 and Murphy III at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Murphy III (2 straight), Payton (16 straight). One day's rest. So: Philadelphia wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Philadelphia 113, New Orleans 108.

1/12 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Brown at 21 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 28 and Murray at 18 a game. Without Murphy III (3 straight), Williamson (2 straight), Payton (17 straight). One day's rest. So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 38 percent from three to Boston's 33 and the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to New Orleans's 111. Call it Boston 115, New Orleans 107.