2/21 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Powell at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Prosper at 19 and Jerome at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Aldama (5 straight), Coward (2 straight), Clayton Jr. (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-3 a night and Memphis minus-9 and the defense, Miami allowing 104 a night to Memphis's 121. Call it Miami 120, Memphis 112.

2/23 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Prosper at 18 and Jackson at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Aldama (6 straight), Coward (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 129, shooting 43 percent and 28 from three, 22 free throws a game; Raynaud at 15 and DeRozan at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without LaVine (5 straight), Hunter (5 straight), Cardwell (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been minus-0 a night and Memphis minus-12 and the arc, Memphis at 37 percent from three to Sacramento's 28. Call it Memphis 122, Sacramento 112, Memphis by 10.

2/25 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jerome at 18 and Jackson at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Aldama (7 straight), Coward (4 straight), Anderson (2 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Melton at 19 and Moody at 18 a game. Without Ste. Curry (8 straight), Porziņģis (2 straight), Williams (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been minus-2 a night and Memphis minus-11 and the line, where Memphis takes 24 free throws a game to Golden State's 16. Call it Memphis 118, Golden State 116, Golden State keeping it close.

2/27 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 124, shooting 52 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Marshall at 22 and Washington at 16 a game. Without Flagg (5 straight), Nembhard (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 126, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson at 22 and Jerome at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Aldama (8 straight), Coward (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been minus-1 a night and Memphis minus-13 and the line, where Dallas takes 29 free throws a game to Memphis's 23. Call it Dallas 120, Memphis 118, Memphis keeping it close.