1/12 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bane at 25 and Morant at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Gilyard (7 straight), Rose (4 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; George at 27 and Leonard at 22 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (21 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to Memphis's 38 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 15 times a game to the Clippers' 12. Call it the Clippers 114, Memphis 113, Memphis keeping it close.

1/14 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Towns at 24 and Edwards at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 27 and Leonard at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have won the glass by 4 a night. Without Tucker (22 straight). One day's rest. So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 44 percent from three to Minnesota's 38. Call it Minnesota 114, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.

1/16 vs OKC — 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 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 22 a game. Without Tucker (23 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 107, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to OKC's 36. Call it the Clippers 117, OKC 115, OKC keeping it close.

1/21 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 54 percent and 47 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 29 and Leonard at 22 a game. Without Zubac (2 straight), Tucker (24 straight). 4 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 26 and Thomas at 20 a game. Without Simmons (34 straight), Clowney (10 straight), Wilson (6 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 47 percent from three to Brooklyn's 33 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-2 a night and Brooklyn minus-3. Call it the Clippers 119, Brooklyn 112.