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.

1/22 vs GSW — 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 124 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Marshall at 21 and Christie at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Washington (3 straight), Gafford (3 straight), Russell (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 117, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 16 free throws a game; Butler III at 22 and Podziemski at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the line, where Dallas takes 26 free throws a game to Golden State's 16 and the glass, where Dallas has been plus-2 a night and Golden State minus-5. Call it Dallas 119, Golden State 118, Golden State keeping it close.

1/24 vs LAL — 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 114, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 29 free throws a game; Christie at 23 and Marshall at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Gafford (4 straight), Russell (6 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 34 and James at 23 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Reaves (14 straight). One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-7 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the line, where Dallas takes 29 free throws a game to the Lakers' 22. Call it Dallas 119, the Lakers 114.