11/29 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ball at 35 and Miller at 28 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Bridges (4 straight), Gra. Williams (2 straight), Mann (3 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 119, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and Towns at 26 a game. One day's rest. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 17 times a game to New York's 9 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 111 a night to New York's 119. Call it New York 117, Charlotte 113, Charlotte keeping it close.

11/30 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 108, shooting 42 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Ball at 40 and Miller at 26 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Bridges (5 straight), Gra. Williams (3 straight), Mann (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Johnson at 22 and Young at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Nance Jr. (6 straight), Wallace (6 straight), Gueye (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the defense, Charlotte allowing 108 a night to Atlanta's 122 and the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-4 a night and Charlotte minus-2. Call it Charlotte 115, Atlanta 112, Atlanta keeping it close.

12/03 vs PHI — 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 100 a night and allowing 105, shooting 39 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Ball at 42 and Miller at 25 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Ball (2 straight), Bridges (6 straight), Gra. Williams (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Maxey at 24 and McCain at 18 a game. Without C. Martin (2 straight), Embiid (4 straight), Lowry (5 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the line, where Philadelphia takes 23 free throws a game to Charlotte's 16 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 105 a night to Philadelphia's 112. Call it Charlotte 109, Philadelphia 107, Philadelphia keeping it close.

12/05 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 102, shooting 40 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Miller at 25 and Micić at 9 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Ball (3 straight), Bridges (7 straight), Gra. Williams (5 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 41 percent from three to Charlotte's 33. Call it New York 114, Charlotte 104, New York by 10.