11/18 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; LaVine at 23 and DeRozan at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Butler III at 26 and Adebayo at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Herro (4 straight), Jović (8 straight). One day's rest. So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Miami takes 28 free throws a game to Chicago's 23. Call it Miami 111, Chicago 109, Chicago keeping it close.

11/20 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 104, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and LaVine at 21 a game. One day's rest. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Butler III at 28 and Adebayo at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Herro (5 straight), Jović (9 straight). One day's rest. So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been minus-2 a night and Miami minus-8. Call it Chicago 109, Miami 108, Miami keeping it close.

11/22 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Garland at 26 and Eva. Mobley at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Mitchell (3 straight), LeVert (2 straight), Okoro (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Butler III at 26 and Adebayo at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Herro (6 straight), Jović (10 straight). One day's rest. So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-7 a night and Miami minus-5 and the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 14 times a game to Miami's 9. Call it Cleveland 112, Miami 111, Miami keeping it close.

11/24 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 28 and Randle at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. 3 days' rest. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Butler III at 24 and Adebayo at 22 a game. Without Herro (7 straight), Jović (11 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-9 a night and Miami minus-1 and the defense, Miami allowing 104 a night to New York's 110. Call it New York 110, Miami 109, Miami keeping it close.