1/28 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Mobley at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Hunter (2 straight), Merrill (6 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and James at 21 a game. Without Reaves (16 straight). One day's rest. So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 40 percent from three to Cleveland's 32 and the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 15 times a game to the Lakers' 11. Call it Cleveland 115, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.

1/30 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brooks at 22 and Allen at 18 a game. Without Booker (3 straight), Green (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 101, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 33 and Mobley at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-6 a night and Phoenix minus-2. Call it Cleveland 113, Phoenix 110, Phoenix keeping it close.

2/01 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 113, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sharpe at 23 and Avdija at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Henderson (49 straight), Murray (12 straight), Thybulle (44 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Mobley at 21 a game. Without Mobley (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 18 times a game to Cleveland's 13 and the arc, Cleveland at 38 percent from three to Portland's 32. Call it Cleveland 116, Portland 113, Portland keeping it close.

2/04 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 107, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 25 and Harden at 20 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones Jr. (15 straight), Bogdanović (19 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Allen at 17 a game. Without Mobley (3 straight). 2 days' rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 25 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-6 a night and Cleveland plus-1. Call it the Clippers 115, Cleveland 114, Cleveland keeping it close.