12/28 vs DAL — 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 112 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Sharpe at 21 and Avdija at 18 a game. Without Thybulle (30 straight), Williams III (2 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 103, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Irving at 24 and Thompson at 15 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 103 a night to Portland's 121 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-1 a night and Dallas minus-3. Call it Dallas 114, Portland 110, Portland keeping it close.

12/30 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sharpe at 23 and Avdija at 19 a game. Without Thybulle (31 straight), Williams III (3 straight), Banton (2 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Maxey at 29 and Embiid at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Edwards (11 straight), K. Martin (2 straight), Gordon (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-3 a night and Philadelphia minus-7 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 111 a night to Portland's 122. Call it Philadelphia 113, Portland 112, Portland keeping it close.

1/02 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; James at 28 and Reaves at 23 a game. Without Hayes (15 straight), Vanderbilt (26 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sharpe at 20 and Avdija at 18 a game. Without Thybulle (32 straight), Banton (3 straight). 2 days' rest. So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 16 times a game to the Lakers' 12 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 115 a night to Portland's 123. Call it the Lakers 118, Portland 111.

1/04 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Lillard at 20 and Middleton at 18 a game. Without Wright (3 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Avdija at 21 and Sharpe at 19 a game. Without Grant (2 straight), Thybulle (33 straight). One day's rest. So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the defense, Milwaukee allowing 109 a night to Portland's 123 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-3 a night and Milwaukee minus-2. Call it Milwaukee 117, Portland 109.