1/31 vs LAC — 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 106 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Bridges at 22 and Mar. Williams at 21 a game. Without Gra. Williams (28 straight), Mann (29 straight), Salaün (6 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Powell at 26 and Harden at 26 a game. They have won the glass by 10 a night. Without Dunn (5 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-10 a night and Charlotte minus-0 and the line, where Charlotte takes 26 free throws a game to the Clippers' 20. Call it the Clippers 111, Charlotte 109, Charlotte keeping it close.

2/01 vs DEN — 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 103 a night and allowing 104, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 24 and Micić at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Ball (2 straight), Gra. Williams (29 straight), Mar. Williams (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 128, shooting 53 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 25 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the defense, Charlotte allowing 104 a night to Denver's 128. Call it Charlotte 115, Denver 113, Denver keeping it close.

2/03 vs WAS — 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 105, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Bridges at 24 and Micić at 11 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Ball (3 straight), Gra. Williams (30 straight), Salaün (8 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 118, shooting 41 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Kuzma at 20 and Poole at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Sarr (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the defense, Charlotte allowing 105 a night to Washington's 118 and the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-6. Call it Charlotte 114, Washington 105.

2/05 vs MIL — 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 102 a night and allowing 112, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Bridges at 25 and Mar. Williams at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Ball (4 straight), Gra. Williams (31 straight), Salaün (9 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 127, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 35 and Lillard at 23 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Portis (6 straight). One day's rest. So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been minus-1 a night and Milwaukee minus-13 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 112 a night to Milwaukee's 127. Call it Charlotte 114, Milwaukee 111, Milwaukee keeping it close.