12/05 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Anunoby (9 straight), Shamet (6 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and George at 23 a game. Without Kessler (16 straight), Harkless (7 straight), Tshiebwe (21 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 106 a night to Utah's 123 and the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and Utah minus-3. Call it New York 124, Utah 113, New York by 11.

12/07 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 31 free throws a game; Markkanen at 25 and George at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Kessler (17 straight), Harkless (8 straight), Tshiebwe (22 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 112, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 30 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 35 and Holmgren at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Dort (2 straight), Hartenstein (4 straight), Caruso (3 straight). One day's rest. So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 112 a night to Utah's 126 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 13 times a game to OKC's 10. Call it OKC 123, Utah 116.

12/12 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Wells at 16 and Edey at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Morant (10 straight), Jackson (7 straight), Small (14 straight). 4 days' rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 128, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and George at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Kessler (18 straight), Harkless (9 straight), Tshiebwe (23 straight). 4 days' rest. So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-12 a night and Utah minus-7 and the defense, Memphis allowing 107 a night to Utah's 128. Call it Memphis 122, Utah 112, Memphis by 10.

12/15 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 128, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Markkanen at 26 and George at 24 a game. Without Kessler (19 straight), Harkless (10 straight), Anderson (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 116, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 18 free throws a game; Davis at 21 and Flagg at 21 a game. Without Gafford (3 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Utah takes 27 free throws a game to Dallas's 18 and the defense, Dallas allowing 116 a night to Utah's 128. Call it Dallas 120, Utah 119, Utah keeping it close.