1/15 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Banchero at 22 and Bane at 21 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (15 straight), Suggs (5 straight). 3 days' rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 18 and Coward at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Morant (5 straight), Mashack (2 straight), Small (2 straight). 3 days' rest. So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the line, where Orlando takes 26 free throws a game to Memphis's 19 and the glass, where Memphis has been plus-7 a night and Orlando plus-2. Call it Orlando 116, Memphis 111.

1/18 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 18 and Coward at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Morant (5 straight), Mashack (2 straight), Small (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Banchero at 22 and Bane at 21 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (15 straight), Suggs (5 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the line, where Orlando takes 26 free throws a game to Memphis's 19 and the glass, where Memphis has been plus-7 a night and Orlando plus-2. Call it Memphis 114, Orlando 113, Orlando keeping it close.

1/21 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 18 and Coward at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Morant (5 straight), Mashack (2 straight), Small (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 123, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 22 and Johnson at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Risacher (6 straight). One day's rest. So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-7 a night and Atlanta minus-7 and the defense, Memphis allowing 111 a night to Atlanta's 123. Call it Memphis 117, Atlanta 113, Atlanta keeping it close.

1/23 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 19 and Coward at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Mashack (3 straight), Small (3 straight), Prosper (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Murphy III at 25 and Williamson at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Jones (8 straight), Murray (16 straight), Alvarado (8 straight). One day's rest. So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 17 times a game to New Orleans's 12 and the line, where New Orleans takes 26 free throws a game to Memphis's 20. Call it Memphis 117, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.