11/25 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Johnson at 21 and Young at 18 a game. Without Nance Jr. (3 straight), Wallace (3 straight), Gueye (9 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Irving at 22 and Marshall at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Dončić (2 straight), Edwards (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-9 a night and Atlanta plus-3 and the defense, Dallas allowing 109 a night to Atlanta's 119. Call it Dallas 117, Atlanta 114, Atlanta keeping it close.

11/27 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 27 free throws a game; Irving at 24 and Marshall at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Dončić (3 straight), Edwards (9 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 114, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 16 free throws a game; Towns at 26 and Anunoby at 24 a game. One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the line, where Dallas takes 27 free throws a game to New York's 16 and the glass, where Dallas has been plus-10 a night and New York plus-3. Call it Dallas 118, New York 117, New York keeping it close.

11/30 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Markkanen at 25 and Sexton at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Clarkson (2 straight), Hendricks (15 straight), Williams (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Irving at 24 and Marshall at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Dončić (4 straight), Thompson (2 straight), Edwards (10 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 113 a night to Utah's 121 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 17 times a game to Dallas's 13. Call it Dallas 119, Utah 114.

12/01 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 113, shooting 41 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Simons at 18 and Sharpe at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Grant (2 straight), Thybulle (20 straight), Clingan (3 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Irving at 26 and Marshall at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Dončić (5 straight), Thompson (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-4 a night and Portland minus-4 and the arc, Dallas at 39 percent from three to Portland's 31. Call it Dallas 114, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.