12/13 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; LaVine at 24 and Vučević at 24 a game. Without Williams (10 straight). 4 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Miller at 29 and Micić at 13 a game. Without Ball (6 straight), Bridges (10 straight), Gra. Williams (8 straight). 4 days' rest. So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-3 a night and Chicago minus-3 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 113 a night to Chicago's 121. Call it Chicago 118, Charlotte 113.

12/16 vs PHI — 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 114, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Miller at 26 and Micić at 11 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Ball (7 straight), Gra. Williams (9 straight), Mann (10 straight). 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Maxey at 20 and George at 19 a game. Without Edwards (5 straight), Gordon (5 straight), Bona (3 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 105 a night to Charlotte's 114. Call it Charlotte 109, Philadelphia 108, Philadelphia keeping it close.

12/19 @ 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 108 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 16 free throws a game; Poole at 19 and Champagnie at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Kuzma (7 straight), George (5 straight), Kispert (5 straight). 3 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Miller at 22 and Jeffries at 11 a game. Without Gra. Williams (10 straight), Mann (11 straight), Jeffries (2 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Charlotte wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-0 a night and Washington minus-5 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 116 a night to Washington's 123. Call it Charlotte 113, Washington 112, Washington keeping it close.

12/20 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Maxey at 24 and George at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without C. Martin (2 straight), Edwards (6 straight), Bona (4 straight). 3 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 27 from three, 23 free throws a game; Miller at 21 and Bridges at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Gra. Williams (11 straight), Mann (12 straight), Simpson (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 34 percent from three to Charlotte's 27 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 106 a night to Charlotte's 116. Call it Philadelphia 113, Charlotte 105.