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.

12/26 vs PHX — 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 122 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 28 free throws a game; Williamson at 21 and Murphy III at 18 a game. Without Jordan (27 straight). 2 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Brooks at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Allen (3 straight), Green (19 straight). 2 days' rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-2 a night and Phoenix minus-9 and the line, where New Orleans takes 28 free throws a game to Phoenix's 21. Call it New Orleans 118, Phoenix 116, Phoenix keeping it close.

12/27 vs PHX — 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 121 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 31 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and Murphy III at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Jones (2 straight), Murray (2 straight), Jordan (28 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Brooks at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Allen (4 straight), Green (20 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 110 a night to New Orleans's 121 and the line, where New Orleans takes 31 free throws a game to Phoenix's 23. Call it Phoenix 117, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.

12/29 vs NYK — 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 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 32 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Murphy III at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones (3 straight), Murray (3 straight), Jordan (29 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brunson at 34 and Towns at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without McBride (7 straight), Shamet (15 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-8 a night and New Orleans minus-6 and the arc, New York at 40 percent from three to New Orleans's 30. Call it New York 119, New Orleans 118, New Orleans keeping it close.