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.

3/01 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 129, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Nembhard at 18 and Potter at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Siakam (2 straight), Nesmith (4 straight), Thompson (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 122, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson at 20 and Small at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Aldama (9 straight), Coward (6 straight). One day's rest. So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Indiana has been minus-4 a night and Memphis minus-10 and the defense, Memphis allowing 122 a night to Indiana's 129. Call it Memphis 119, Indiana 118, Indiana keeping it close.

3/03 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 31 and McDaniels at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jackson at 18 and Wells at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Aldama (10 straight), Coward (7 straight), Jerome (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-1 a night and Memphis minus-8 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 113 a night to Memphis's 121. Call it Minnesota 119, Memphis 114.