2/01 @ 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 109 a night and allowing 116, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Sarr at 20 and Johnson at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Bagley III (5 straight), Whitmore (26 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 20 and Monk at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Murray (14 straight), Westbrook (2 straight), McDermott (13 straight). One day's rest. So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-6. Call it Washington 116, Sacramento 112, Sacramento keeping it close.

2/04 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; LaVine at 23 and DeRozan at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Murray (15 straight), Sabonis (2 straight), Westbrook (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 22 and Jackson at 12 a game. Without Aldama (4 straight), Mashack (9 straight), Pippen Jr. (7 straight). One day's rest. So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-2 a night and Memphis minus-2. Call it Sacramento 115, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.

2/06 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 23 and LaVine at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Murray (16 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Collins at 16 a game. One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 113, Sacramento 112, Sacramento keeping it close.

2/07 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; DeRozan at 18 and LaVine at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Murray (17 straight), McDermott (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 105, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Allen at 18 a game. Without Mobley (4 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 105 a night to Sacramento's 117 and the line, where Sacramento takes 25 free throws a game to Cleveland's 17. Call it Cleveland 119, Sacramento 111.