12/15 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Curry at 24 and Kuminga at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Wiggins (2 straight), Post (12 straight). 3 days' rest. Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 44 from three, 31 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and Irving at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Kleber (2 straight), Hardy (2 straight). 4 days' rest. So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Dallas at 44 percent from three to Golden State's 33 and the line, where Dallas takes 31 free throws a game to Golden State's 19. Call it Dallas 113, Golden State 112, Golden State keeping it close.

12/19 vs LAC — 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 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 30 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Irving at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Kleber (3 straight), Hardy (3 straight). 3 days' rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 40 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 Jones Jr. (2 straight), Mann (4 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-9 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the line, where Dallas takes 30 free throws a game to the Clippers' 19. Call it Dallas 117, the Clippers 112.

12/21 vs LAC — 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 vs POR — 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 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Thompson at 21 a game. Without Dončić (2 straight), Hardy (5 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Simons at 22 and Sharpe at 19 a game. Without Thybulle (28 straight), Banton (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the arc, Dallas at 40 percent from three to Portland's 32 and the line, where Dallas takes 26 free throws a game to Portland's 17. Call it Dallas 118, Portland 110.