12/18 vs HOU — 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 121 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 24 and Bey at 16 a game. Without Jordan (23 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 28 and Durant at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 15 a night. Without Eason (12 straight), Finney-Smith (23 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-15 a night and New Orleans plus-0 and the arc, Houston at 40 percent from three to New Orleans's 30. Call it Houston 119, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.

12/20 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murphy III at 25 and Bey at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Jordan (24 straight), Peavy (2 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Nembhard at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Nesmith (15 straight), Sheppard (5 straight), Toppin (24 straight). One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 109 a night to New Orleans's 121 and the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-2 a night and Indiana minus-7. Call it New Orleans 118, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.

12/22 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 119, shooting 52 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Murphy III at 24 and Williamson at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Jordan (25 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 51 percent and 28 from three, 28 free throws a game; Flagg at 26 and Davis at 23 a game. One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-1 a night and Dallas minus-3 and the arc, New Orleans at 32 percent from three to Dallas's 28. Call it New Orleans 121, Dallas 118, Dallas keeping it close.

12/23 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 128, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 32 and Garland at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mobley (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 20 and Murphy III at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without McGowens (2 straight), Jordan (26 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 115 a night to Cleveland's 128 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and Cleveland minus-5. Call it Cleveland 122, New Orleans 121, New Orleans keeping it close.