12/23 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Young at 24 and Hunter at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Okongwu (2 straight), Gueye (21 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Edwards at 22 and Randle at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-4 a night and Minnesota minus-6 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 108 a night to Atlanta's 122. Call it Minnesota 113, Atlanta 112, Atlanta keeping it close.

12/26 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Young at 27 and Hunter at 22 a game. Without Okongwu (3 straight), Gueye (22 straight). 2 days' rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 112, shooting 42 percent and 31 from three, 18 free throws a game; LaVine at 19 and Vučević at 19 a game. Without Giddey (3 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 40 percent from three to Chicago's 31 and the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 18 times a game to Chicago's 13. Call it Atlanta 117, Chicago 113, Chicago keeping it close.

12/28 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 122, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 28 free throws a game; Young at 28 and Hunter at 22 a game. Without Okongwu (4 straight), Bogdanović (2 straight), Gueye (23 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 107, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Herro at 22 and Adebayo at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Butler III (3 straight), Richardson (15 straight). One day's rest. So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 107 a night to Atlanta's 122 and the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-2 a night and Miami minus-5. Call it Atlanta 115, Miami 114, Miami keeping it close.

12/29 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Barrett at 27 and Barnes at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Poeltl (4 straight), Quickley (20 straight), Shead (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Hunter at 25 and Young at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Okongwu (5 straight), Bogdanović (3 straight), Gueye (24 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-4 a night and Toronto minus-11 and the arc, Atlanta at 41 percent from three to Toronto's 36. Call it Toronto 120, Atlanta 119, Atlanta keeping it close.