11/26 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Toronto comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and Barrett at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 31 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Mathurin at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Nesmith (5 straight), Furphy (10 straight), Que. Jackson (10 straight). One day's rest. So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the defense, Toronto allowing 108 a night to Indiana's 123 and the glass, where Toronto has been plus-2 a night and Indiana minus-7. Call it Toronto 123, Indiana 110, Toronto by 13.

11/28 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 30 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Mathurin at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Nesmith (6 straight), Furphy (11 straight), Que. Jackson (11 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCollum at 23 and George at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Johnson (2 straight), Bagley III (3 straight), Gill (2 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the line, where Indiana takes 30 free throws a game to Washington's 21 and the defense, Indiana allowing 117 a night to Washington's 125. Call it Indiana 120, Washington 116, Washington keeping it close.

11/29 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Mathurin at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Nesmith (7 straight), Furphy (12 straight), Que. Jackson (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; White at 24 and Vučević at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Okoro (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 109 a night to Chicago's 130 and the glass, where Indiana has been minus-5 a night and Chicago minus-13. Call it Indiana 121, Chicago 115.

12/01 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Mathurin at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Nesmith (8 straight), Furphy (13 straight), Que. Jackson (13 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and Mobley at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Merrill (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 105 a night to Cleveland's 114 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-1 a night and Indiana minus-4. Call it Indiana 114, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.