12/28 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and White at 20 a game. Without LaVine (13 straight), Craig (5 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 123, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Haliburton at 21 and Turner at 19 a game. Without Bru. Brown (2 straight), Sheppard (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the defense, Chicago allowing 106 a night to Indiana's 123 and the arc, Indiana at 41 percent from three to Chicago's 34. Call it Chicago 119, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.

12/30 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; DeRozan at 23 and White at 18 a game. Without LaVine (14 straight), Vučević (2 straight), Craig (6 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Maxey at 29 and Harris at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Embiid (3 straight), Batum (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-0 a night and Philadelphia minus-8 and the arc, Philadelphia at 38 percent from three to Chicago's 32. Call it Philadelphia 114, Chicago 113, Chicago keeping it close.

1/02 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Maxey at 26 and Harris at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Embiid (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 26 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and White at 19 a game. Without LaVine (15 straight), Vučević (3 straight), Craig (7 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-10 and the arc, Philadelphia at 35 percent from three to Chicago's 26. Call it Philadelphia 114, Chicago 109.

1/03 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 28 free throws a game; Randle at 31 and Brunson at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Robinson (12 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 24 from three, 25 free throws a game; DeRozan at 21 and White at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without LaVine (16 straight), Vučević (4 straight), Craig (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 35 percent from three to Chicago's 24 and the defense, Chicago allowing 109 a night to New York's 123. Call it New York 116, Chicago 110.