1/01 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; George at 23 and Harden at 20 a game. Without Leonard (4 straight), Tucker (15 straight). 2 days' rest. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 30 free throws a game; Herro at 26 and Adebayo at 21 a game. Without Martin (2 straight), Lowry (2 straight), Richardson (3 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the line, where Miami takes 30 free throws a game to the Clippers' 20 and the defense, Miami allowing 110 a night to the Clippers' 120. Call it the Clippers 115, Miami 114, Miami keeping it close.

1/03 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 24 and Booker at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; George at 23 and Harden at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Tucker (16 straight). One day's rest. So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where Phoenix takes 25 free throws a game to the Clippers' 18 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 111 a night to the Clippers' 119. Call it Phoenix 118, the Clippers 112.

1/05 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ingram at 21 and Williamson at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Murphy III (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 25 and Harden at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Tucker (17 straight). One day's rest. So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 104 a night to the Clippers' 116. Call it New Orleans 117, the Clippers 111.

1/07 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Davis at 28 and James at 24 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Russell (3 straight), Hachimura (2 straight), Vincent (8 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 106, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Tucker (18 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-7 a night and the Lakers minus-3 and the arc, the Clippers at 42 percent from three to the Lakers' 32. Call it the Clippers 116, the Lakers 112, the Lakers keeping it close.