2/21 vs PHI — 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 121 a night and allowing 122, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 28 and Williamson at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Murray (27 straight), Missi (2 straight), Jordan (53 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 30 free throws a game; Maxey at 29 and Edgecombe at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without George (8 straight), Embiid (3 straight). One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 40 percent from three to Philadelphia's 30 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 30 free throws a game to New Orleans's 23. Call it New Orleans 119, Philadelphia 116, Philadelphia keeping it close.

2/24 vs GSW — 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 119 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Murphy III at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Murphy III (2 straight), Murray (28 straight), Missi (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 13 free throws a game; Moody at 18 and Podziemski at 15 a game. Without Ste. Curry (7 straight), Williams (2 straight), Cryer (10 straight). One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the line, where New Orleans takes 25 free throws a game to Golden State's 13 and the arc, New Orleans at 39 percent from three to Golden State's 34. Call it New Orleans 117, Golden State 115, Golden State keeping it close.

2/26 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Sensabaugh at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without George (5 straight), Kessler (53 straight). 2 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Bey at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Murphy III (3 straight), Missi (4 straight), Peavy (4 straight). One day's rest. So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been minus-0 a night and New Orleans minus-5. Call it Utah 119, New Orleans 118, New Orleans keeping it close.

2/28 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 20 and Collier at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without George (6 straight), Kessler (54 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Bey at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Murphy III (4 straight), Missi (5 straight), Peavy (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Utah wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Utah 120, New Orleans 119, New Orleans keeping it close.