11/10 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 101, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 21 and Sengun at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Thompson (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; McCollum at 25 and Williamson at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without McCollum (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 101 a night to New Orleans's 120 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-5 a night and New Orleans minus-7. Call it Houston 117, New Orleans 106, Houston by 11.

11/12 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 100, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 22 and Sengun at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Thompson (4 straight), Whitmore (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Porter Jr. at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Murray (2 straight). 3 days' rest. So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 42 percent from three to Denver's 35 and the defense, Houston allowing 100 a night to Denver's 109. Call it Houston 112, Denver 109, Denver keeping it close.

11/17 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 0-5 over their last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 21 and Leonard at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Coffey (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 97, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and Ja. Green at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Thompson (5 straight), Whitmore (3 straight). 4 days' rest. So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 97 a night to the Clippers' 114 and the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 15 times a game to Houston's 10. Call it Houston 112, the Clippers 106.

11/19 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 27 free throws a game; James at 28 and Russell at 19 a game. Without Vincent (9 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 100, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and Ja. Green at 21 a game. Without Thompson (6 straight), Whitmore (4 straight). One day's rest. So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 44 percent from three to Houston's 36 and the defense, Houston allowing 100 a night to the Lakers' 111. Call it Houston 111, the Lakers 110, the Lakers keeping it close.