2/06 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 23 and LaVine at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Murray (16 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Collins at 16 a game. One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 113, Sacramento 112, Sacramento keeping it close.

2/07 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; DeRozan at 18 and LaVine at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Murray (17 straight), McDermott (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 105, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Allen at 18 a game. Without Mobley (4 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 105 a night to Sacramento's 117 and the line, where Sacramento takes 25 free throws a game to Cleveland's 17. Call it Cleveland 119, Sacramento 111.

2/09 @ NOP — 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 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murphy III at 25 and Bey at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Murray (24 straight), Poole (7 straight), Jordan (50 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; LaVine at 17 and Clifford at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Murray (18 straight), Sabonis (2 straight). One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-1 a night and New Orleans minus-10 and the arc, New Orleans at 40 percent from three to Sacramento's 34. Call it New Orleans 119, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.

2/11 @ 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 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Markkanen at 23 and Collier at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Kessler (49 straight), Mykhailiuk (2 straight), Harkless (40 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; LaVine at 17 and DeRozan at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Murray (19 straight), LaVine (2 straight), Sabonis (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-9 a night and Sacramento plus-3 and the defense, Utah allowing 116 a night to Sacramento's 122. Call it Utah 121, Sacramento 115.