1/01 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Eason (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Irving at 31 and Washington at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Marshall (2 straight), Lively II (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and Dallas minus-9 and the arc, Dallas at 37 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Houston 113, Dallas 109, Dallas keeping it close.

1/03 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Eason (7 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 28 and Tatum at 26 a game. Without Porziņģis (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to Houston's 34 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 13 times a game to Boston's 9. Call it Houston 113, Boston 112, Boston keeping it close.

1/05 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Green at 22 and Sengun at 21 a game. Without Thompson (2 straight), Eason (8 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 30 and Reaves at 24 a game. Without Vincent (3 straight), Vanderbilt (28 straight). One day's rest. So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Houston 113, the Lakers 109, the Lakers keeping it close.

1/07 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Sarr at 16 and Brogdon at 14 a game. Without Coulibaly (2 straight), Holmes (6 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 21 a game. Without Smith Jr. (2 straight), Eason (9 straight). One day's rest. So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 108 a night to Washington's 122 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 16 times a game to Houston's 11. Call it Houston 114, Washington 111, Washington keeping it close.