11/30 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 121, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Vassell at 20 and Wembanyama at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. 3 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Young at 31 and Bogdanović at 19 a game. Without Johnson (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 39 percent from three to San Antonio's 31 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 121 a night to Atlanta's 130. Call it Atlanta 122, San Antonio 119, San Antonio keeping it close.

12/02 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 29 and Lillard at 28 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Crowder (10 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 126, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Young at 32 and Hunter at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Johnson (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-4 a night and Atlanta minus-6 and the defense, Milwaukee allowing 119 a night to Atlanta's 126. Call it Milwaukee 123, Atlanta 120, Atlanta keeping it close.

12/06 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Young at 30 and Hunter at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Johnson (4 straight), Fernando (2 straight). 3 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 25 and Dinwiddie at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Simmons (12 straight), Clowney (4 straight), Wilson (13 straight). 3 days' rest. So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-8 a night and Atlanta minus-6 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 108 a night to Atlanta's 123. Call it Brooklyn 119, Atlanta 118, Atlanta keeping it close.

12/08 @ 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 126 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 29 free throws a game; Embiid at 38 and Maxey at 30 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without House Jr. (5 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 124, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Young at 31 and Bogdanović at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Johnson (5 straight), Fernando (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been plus-5 a night and Atlanta minus-7 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 29 free throws a game to Atlanta's 22. Call it Philadelphia 125, Atlanta 116.