1/14 vs DEN — 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 109 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Davis at 22 and Flagg at 19 a game. Without Washington (4 straight), Williams (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 42 from three, 27 free throws a game; Watson at 26 and Hardaway Jr. at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jokić (8 straight), Braun (2 straight), Johnson (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 27 free throws a game to Dallas's 19 and the glass, where Dallas has been minus-1 a night and Denver minus-6. Call it Dallas 115, Denver 112, Denver keeping it close.

1/15 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Marshall at 18 and Flagg at 18 a game. Without Russell (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Markkanen at 30 and George at 21 a game. Without Kessler (35 straight), Harkless (26 straight), Tshiebwe (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 112 a night to Utah's 127 and the glass, where Dallas has been plus-2 a night and Utah minus-2. Call it Dallas 120, Utah 115.

1/17 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Marshall at 20 and Flagg at 18 a game. Without Christie (2 straight), Russell (3 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 130, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 23 and George at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Markkanen (2 straight), Kessler (36 straight), Nurkić (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 117 a night to Utah's 130 and the glass, where Dallas has been plus-1 a night and Utah minus-7. Call it Dallas 123, Utah 116.

1/19 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Anunoby at 20 and Brunson at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Brunson (2 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williams at 20 and Marshall at 20 a game. Without Flagg (2 straight), Washington (2 straight), Gafford (2 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and Dallas plus-0 and the line, where Dallas takes 26 free throws a game to New York's 19. Call it New York 117, Dallas 115, Dallas keeping it close.