12/21 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and Irving at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Hardy (4 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Powell at 23 and Harden at 21 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mann (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the line, where Dallas takes 27 free throws a game to the Clippers' 19. Call it Dallas 115, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.

12/23 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 45 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 19 and Morant at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Williams Jr. (14 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Harden at 25 and Powell at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Mann (6 straight). One day's rest. So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-6 a night and the Clippers minus-4 and the arc, Memphis at 45 percent from three to the Clippers' 38. Call it Memphis 119, the Clippers 110.

12/27 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Powell at 26 and Harden at 24 a game. Without Mann (7 straight). 3 days' rest. Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Curry at 21 and Wiggins at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Waters III (3 straight), Post (17 straight), Anderson (2 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Golden State's 123 and the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 16 times a game to Golden State's 12. Call it the Clippers 116, Golden State 109.

12/30 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 126, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 26 and McCollum at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Williamson (23 straight), Alvarado (21 straight), Payton (10 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 103, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Powell at 28 and Harden at 25 a game. Without Mann (8 straight). 2 days' rest. So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 103 a night to New Orleans's 126 and the arc, the Clippers at 38 percent from three to New Orleans's 34. Call it the Clippers 116, New Orleans 109.