1/14 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 120, shooting 53 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 24 a game. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 115, shooting 54 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mathurin at 19 and Turner at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Haliburton (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 24 free throws a game to Indiana's 19. Call it Denver 121, Indiana 119, Indiana keeping it close.

1/15 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 115, shooting 53 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Markkanen at 26 and Sexton at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without Horton-Tucker (5 straight), Juzang (15 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mathurin at 18 and Turner at 14 a game. Without Haliburton (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-13 a night and Indiana plus-0 and the line, where Utah takes 27 free throws a game to Indiana's 20. Call it Utah 123, Indiana 117.

1/18 @ SAC — 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 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Fox at 26 and Sabonis at 23 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Ellis (2 straight), Mitchell (2 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mathurin at 16 and Turner at 14 a game. Without Haliburton (4 straight), Nesmith (2 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Sacramento wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Sacramento 122, Indiana 117.

1/19 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 95 a night and allowing 119, shooting 39 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grant at 18 and Simons at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Sharpe (3 straight), Ayton (12 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mathurin at 16 and Bru. Brown at 15 a game. Without Haliburton (5 straight), Nesmith (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Indiana has been plus-3 a night and Portland minus-7 and the arc, Indiana at 36 percent from three to Portland's 32. Call it Indiana 117, Portland 113, Portland keeping it close.