12/02 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Johnson at 23 and Young at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Nance Jr. (7 straight), Wallace (7 straight), Gueye (13 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 28 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 21 and Murphy III at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Ingram (4 straight), Jones (17 straight), Williamson (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-3 a night and New Orleans minus-7 and the arc, Atlanta at 36 percent from three to New Orleans's 28. Call it Atlanta 119, New Orleans 109, Atlanta by 10.

12/04 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Milwaukee comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 49 from three, 22 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 35 and Lillard at 29 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Johnson at 22 and Hunter at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Nance Jr. (8 straight), Wallace (8 straight), Gueye (14 straight). One day's rest. So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the arc, Milwaukee at 49 percent from three to Atlanta's 35 and the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-4 a night and Milwaukee minus-1. Call it Milwaukee 118, Atlanta 115, Atlanta keeping it close.

12/06 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Hunter at 22 and Johnson at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Krejčí (2 straight), Nance Jr. (9 straight), Mathews (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 27 from three, 18 free throws a game; James at 19 and Davis at 17 a game. Without Reaves (3 straight), Hayes (5 straight), Vanderbilt (16 straight). One day's rest. So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-10 a night and the Lakers minus-3 and the arc, Atlanta at 35 percent from three to the Lakers' 27. Call it Atlanta 117, the Lakers 108.

12/08 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Hunter at 22 and Young at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Nance Jr. (10 straight), Mathews (3 straight), Wallace (10 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Jokić at 36 and Porter Jr. at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-10 a night and Denver minus-3 and the defense, Atlanta allowing 111 a night to Denver's 118. Call it Atlanta 120, Denver 115.