1/11 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and Irving at 27 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Lively II (3 straight), Kleber (30 straight), Exum (4 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 97, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Randle at 28 and Brunson at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Robinson (16 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-10 a night and Dallas minus-7 and the defense, New York allowing 97 a night to Dallas's 111. Call it New York 114, Dallas 112, Dallas keeping it close.

1/13 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and Irving at 33 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Lively II (4 straight), Kleber (31 straight), Exum (5 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and McCollum at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-5 a night and Dallas minus-6 and the line, where Dallas takes 27 free throws a game to New Orleans's 19. Call it Dallas 118, New Orleans 113.

1/15 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Irving at 34 and Hardaway Jr. at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Dončić (2 straight), Lively II (5 straight), Exum (6 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 45 from three, 23 free throws a game; Williamson at 20 and McCollum at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and Dallas minus-7 and the arc, New Orleans at 45 percent from three to Dallas's 39. Call it Dallas 117, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.

1/17 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Davis at 24 and James at 20 a game. Without Vincent (13 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Irving at 37 and Hardaway Jr. at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Dončić (3 straight), Exum (7 straight). One day's rest. So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 16 times a game to Dallas's 11 and the glass, where the Lakers have been minus-3 a night and Dallas minus-8. Call it the Lakers 118, Dallas 116, Dallas keeping it close.