12/05 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Chicago comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Giddey at 23 and Dosunmu at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without White (3 straight), Okoro (6 straight), Smith (3 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Mathurin at 16 a game. Without Nesmith (10 straight), Que. Jackson (15 straight), Toppin (19 straight). One day's rest. So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 111 a night to Chicago's 121. Call it Chicago 117, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.

12/08 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 27 and Mathurin at 19 a game. Without Nesmith (11 straight), Que. Jackson (16 straight), Toppin (20 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; LaVine at 22 and Murray at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Sabonis (9 straight), Plowden (11 straight), Schröder (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Indiana has been minus-3 a night and Sacramento minus-11 and the arc, Indiana at 39 percent from three to Sacramento's 34. Call it Indiana 118, Sacramento 112.

12/12 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Maxey at 31 and Grimes at 17 a game. Without Oubre Jr. (11 straight), Watford (6 straight). 4 days' rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Mathurin at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Nesmith (12 straight), Sheppard (2 straight), Que. Jackson (17 straight). 3 days' rest. So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been minus-1 a night and Indiana minus-7 and the arc, Indiana at 39 percent from three to Philadelphia's 34. Call it Philadelphia 118, Indiana 112.

12/14 vs WAS — 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 116 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Nembhard at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Nesmith (13 straight), Sheppard (3 straight), Que. Jackson (18 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 131, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; McCollum at 23 and Vukcevic at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Sarr (5 straight), Coulibaly (3 straight), Middleton (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 119 a night to Washington's 131 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 16 times a game to Indiana's 12. Call it Indiana 123, Washington 115.