12/23 @ 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 122 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Garland at 20 and Mitchell at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Okoro (2 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; George at 20 and Markkanen at 18 a game. Without Hendricks (24 straight), Williams (11 straight), Filipowski (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 106 a night to Utah's 126 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 20 times a game to Cleveland's 13. Call it Cleveland 124, Utah 108, Cleveland by 16.

12/26 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 16 free throws a game; Simons at 21 and Sharpe at 18 a game. Without Thybulle (29 straight). 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 43 from three, 25 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Sexton at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without George (2 straight), Hendricks (25 straight), Williams (12 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Utah at 43 percent from three to Portland's 32 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 20 times a game to Portland's 13. Call it Portland 116, Utah 115, Utah keeping it close.

12/28 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 42 from three, 26 free throws a game; Markkanen at 23 and Sexton at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without George (3 straight), Collins (2 straight), Hendricks (26 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Maxey at 31 and Embiid at 23 a game. Without Edwards (10 straight), Gordon (2 straight), Council IV (2 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 19 times a game to Philadelphia's 12 and the glass, where Utah has been plus-5 a night and Philadelphia minus-3. Call it Utah 114, Philadelphia 113, Philadelphia keeping it close.

12/30 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Sexton at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without George (4 straight), Collins (3 straight), Hendricks (27 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 120, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Murray at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Gordon (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-10 a night and Denver plus-4 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 19 times a game to Denver's 15. Call it Denver 118, Utah 117, Utah keeping it close.