1/15 vs ATL — 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 112 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Avdija at 30 and Sharpe at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Grant (14 straight), Henderson (41 straight), Murray (4 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 21 and Johnson at 19 a game. Without Risacher (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 15 times a game to Atlanta's 10 and the line, where Portland takes 22 free throws a game to Atlanta's 17. Call it Portland 116, Atlanta 115, Atlanta keeping it close.

1/17 vs LAL — 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 108 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Avdija at 29 and Sharpe at 21 a game. Without Avdija (2 straight), Henderson (42 straight), Murray (5 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 34 and James at 27 a game. Without Reaves (10 straight), Hayes (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 110 a night to the Lakers' 117 and the arc, the Lakers at 36 percent from three to Portland's 31. Call it Portland 116, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.

1/18 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 113, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 24 and Westbrook at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Murray (6 straight), Plowden (30 straight), Carter (4 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sharpe at 22 and Love at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Avdija (3 straight), Henderson (43 straight), Murray (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 43 percent from three to Portland's 33 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-4 a night and Sacramento minus-0. Call it Sacramento 116, Portland 114, Portland keeping it close.

1/22 vs MIA — 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 114, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sharpe at 24 and Love at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Henderson (44 straight), Murray (7 straight), Thybulle (39 straight). 3 days' rest. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Powell at 23 and Adebayo at 22 a game. Without Herro (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-7 a night and Miami minus-2 and the arc, Miami at 38 percent from three to Portland's 31. Call it Portland 119, Miami 117, Miami keeping it close.