1/24 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 103, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Butler III at 22 and Herro at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Jaquez Jr. (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 27 and Williams Jr. at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Bane (5 straight), LaRavia (4 straight), Rose (10 straight). One day's rest. So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been minus-2 a night and Memphis minus-10 and the defense, Miami allowing 103 a night to Memphis's 111. Call it Miami 110, Memphis 105.

1/25 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 107, shooting 42 percent and 30 from three, 20 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Herro at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Jaquez Jr. (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Tatum at 24 and Porziņģis at 23 a game. 2 days' rest. So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 37 percent from three to Miami's 30 and the turnovers, Miami giving it away 15 times a game to Boston's 10. Call it Boston 111, Miami 106.

1/27 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 98, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and Randle at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Hartenstein (2 straight), Robinson (24 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Adebayo at 19 and Herro at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jaquez Jr. (6 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-10 a night and Miami minus-5 and the defense, New York allowing 98 a night to Miami's 117. Call it New York 116, Miami 103, New York by 13.

1/29 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Miami comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Herro at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 116, shooting 57 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Booker at 39 and Durant at 26 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 16 times a game to Miami's 12 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-0 a night and Miami minus-5. Call it Phoenix 114, Miami 113, Miami keeping it close.