12/03 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Mobley at 18 a game. Without Allen (2 straight), Merrill (7 straight), Ball (2 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 31 free throws a game; Avdija at 25 and Grant at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Holiday (9 straight), Henderson (21 straight), Thybulle (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 31 free throws a game to Cleveland's 19 and the arc, Cleveland at 37 percent from three to Portland's 33. Call it Cleveland 121, Portland 113.

12/05 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Cleveland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Mobley at 19 a game. Without Allen (3 straight), Merrill (8 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Vassell at 21 a game. Without Castle (8 straight), Wembanyama (9 straight). One day's rest. So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the line, where San Antonio takes 26 free throws a game to Cleveland's 20. Call it Cleveland 119, San Antonio 118, San Antonio keeping it close.

12/06 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 33 and Mobley at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Allen (4 straight), Merrill (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Butler III at 17 and Podziemski at 12 a game. Without Ste. Curry (3 straight). One day's rest. So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 108 a night to Cleveland's 121 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-4 a night and Golden State minus-2. Call it Cleveland 116, Golden State 115, Golden State keeping it close.

12/12 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 129, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; McCollum at 20 and Middleton at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Sarr (4 straight), Coulibaly (2 straight), Johnson (7 straight). 5 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and Mobley at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Allen (5 straight), Merrill (10 straight). 5 days' rest. So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-5 a night and Washington minus-6 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 115 a night to Washington's 129. Call it Cleveland 121, Washington 114.