11/26 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Poole at 19 and Kuzma at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Champagnie (5 straight), Holmes (8 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 128, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; LaVine at 24 and Vučević at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Williams (3 straight), Ball (14 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Chicago wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Washington has been minus-3 a night and Chicago minus-10 and the arc, Chicago at 40 percent from three to Washington's 34. Call it Chicago 119, Washington 118, Washington keeping it close.

11/27 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Poole at 18 and Kuzma at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Poole (2 straight), Champagnie (6 straight), Holmes (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 101, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Harden at 20 and Zubac at 15 a game. They have won the glass by 8 a night. Without Powell (4 straight). One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 101 a night to Washington's 122 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-8 a night and Washington minus-4. Call it the Clippers 114, Washington 106.

11/30 @ 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 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 44 from three, 23 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 32 and Lillard at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 3 days' rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 28 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brogdon at 14 and Kuzma at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Champagnie (7 straight), Holmes (10 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the arc, Milwaukee at 44 percent from three to Washington's 28 and the defense, Milwaukee allowing 109 a night to Washington's 121. Call it Milwaukee 120, Washington 106, Milwaukee by 14.

12/03 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 23 and Garland at 22 a game. Without Wade (6 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 27 from three, 24 free throws a game; Poole at 21 and Brogdon at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Champagnie (8 straight), Holmes (11 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 38 percent from three to Washington's 27. Call it Cleveland 122, Washington 108, Cleveland by 14.