4/05 vs ORL — 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 107 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bey at 18 and Williamson at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Oduro (2 straight), Poole (2 straight), McGowens (12 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 32 free throws a game; Bane at 20 and Banchero at 16 a game. Without Black (15 straight). One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Orlando giving it away 20 times a game to New Orleans's 14 and the line, where Orlando takes 32 free throws a game to New Orleans's 25. Call it New Orleans 117, Orlando 116, Orlando keeping it close.

4/07 vs UTA — 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 107 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Bey at 21 and Fears at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Oduro (3 straight), Poole (3 straight), McGowens (13 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 134, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 25 and Filipowski at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Collier (10 straight), Harkless (4 straight), Hinson (6 straight). One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 120 a night to Utah's 134 and the line, where New Orleans takes 27 free throws a game to Utah's 20. Call it New Orleans 122, Utah 115.

4/10 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 109, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brown at 32 and Tatum at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Garza (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Fears at 24 and Bey at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without McGowens (14 straight), Jordan (5 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-12 a night and New Orleans minus-7 and the defense, Boston allowing 109 a night to New Orleans's 124. Call it Boston 121, New Orleans 111, Boston by 10.

4/12 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Randle at 22 and Dosunmu at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Randle (2 straight), Gobert (2 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 126, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Fears at 29 and Bey at 22 a game. Without McGowens (15 straight), Jordan (6 straight). One day's rest. So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the line, where New Orleans takes 27 free throws a game to Minnesota's 20 and the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-3 a night and Minnesota minus-8. Call it Minnesota 121, New Orleans 117, New Orleans keeping it close.