3/05 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 27 from three, 21 free throws a game; Westbrook at 19 and Achiuwa at 17 a game. Without Murray (3 straight), LaVine (10 straight), Hunter (10 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Bey at 23 and Williamson at 18 a game. Without Poole (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 18 times a game to Sacramento's 13 and the arc, New Orleans at 32 percent from three to Sacramento's 27. Call it Sacramento 117, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.

3/08 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 125, shooting 47 percent and 25 from three, 20 free throws a game; Achiuwa at 18 and Westbrook at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Murray (4 straight), LaVine (11 straight), Hunter (11 straight). 2 days' rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Buzelis at 21 and Sexton at 18 a game. Without Simons (6 straight), Smith (5 straight), Williams (4 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Chicago wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Chicago at 34 percent from three to Sacramento's 25 and the turnovers, Chicago giving it away 18 times a game to Sacramento's 11. Call it Chicago 116, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.

3/10 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 29 from three, 21 free throws a game; Achiuwa at 19 and Raynaud at 19 a game. Without Murray (5 straight), LaVine (12 straight), Hunter (12 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 129, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Walker at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Thompson (8 straight). One day's rest. So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-0 a night and Indiana minus-9 and the defense, Sacramento allowing 121 a night to Indiana's 129. Call it Sacramento 121, Indiana 114.

3/11 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 29 from three, 22 free throws a game; Raynaud at 18 and Westbrook at 18 a game. Without Murray (6 straight), LaVine (13 straight), Hunter (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Charlotte comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 104, shooting 43 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Miller at 18 and Ball at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Salaün (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Charlotte wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Charlotte allowing 104 a night to Sacramento's 119 and the arc, Charlotte at 37 percent from three to Sacramento's 29. Call it Charlotte 116, Sacramento 111.