11/21 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 31 free throws a game; Flagg at 17 and Marshall at 16 a game. Without Davis (10 straight), Nembhard (6 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 24 and Fears at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Poole (8 straight), Jordan (11 straight). One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the line, where Dallas takes 31 free throws a game to New Orleans's 23. Call it Dallas 120, New Orleans 113.

11/22 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murphy III at 24 and Fears at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Poole (9 straight), McGowens (2 straight), Jordan (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 120, shooting 53 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Johnson at 26 and Alexander-Walker at 24 a game. Without Young (11 straight). One day's rest. So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 43 percent from three to New Orleans's 30 and the line, where New Orleans takes 25 free throws a game to Atlanta's 19. Call it Atlanta 122, New Orleans 114.

11/24 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 29 from three, 26 free throws a game; Murphy III at 21 and Fears at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Poole (10 straight), Jordan (13 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 132, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; White at 24 and Giddey at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. So: Chicago wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 122 a night to Chicago's 132 and the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-0 a night and Chicago minus-7. Call it Chicago 121, New Orleans 120, New Orleans keeping it close.

11/26 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and Murphy III at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (2 straight), Poole (11 straight), Jordan (14 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 107, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 20 and Aldama at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Morant (4 straight), Mashack (2 straight), Small (8 straight). One day's rest. So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Memphis allowing 107 a night to New Orleans's 123 and the glass, where Memphis has been plus-10 a night and New Orleans plus-5. Call it Memphis 116, New Orleans 114, New Orleans keeping it close.