12/20 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 136, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mathurin at 19 and Haliburton at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Nembhard (5 straight), Smith (9 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 16 free throws a game; Rozier at 24 and Bridges at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Ball (10 straight), Hayward (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Indiana has been plus-0 a night and Charlotte minus-12 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 118 a night to Indiana's 136. Call it Indiana 124, Charlotte 117.

12/23 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 28 from three, 15 free throws a game; Rozier at 22 and Bridges at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Ball (11 straight), Martin (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 40 percent from three to Charlotte's 28 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-1 a night and Charlotte minus-10. Call it Denver 118, Charlotte 110.

12/26 @ LAC — 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 128 a night and allowing 128, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 31 and George at 24 a game. Without Leonard (2 straight), Tucker (13 straight). 2 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 25 from three, 17 free throws a game; Rozier at 21 and Bridges at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Ball (12 straight). 2 days' rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 41 percent from three to Charlotte's 25 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-2 a night and Charlotte minus-7. Call it the Clippers 123, Charlotte 111, the Clippers by 12.

12/28 @ 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 114 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Davis at 30 and James at 26 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Vincent (3 straight), Wood (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 122, shooting 43 percent and 24 from three, 16 free throws a game; Bridges at 18 and Rozier at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Ball (13 straight). One day's rest. So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to Charlotte's 24. Call it the Lakers 119, Charlotte 110.