11/08 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 131, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sarr at 19 and George at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Cooper (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 27 from three, 23 free throws a game; Washington at 16 and Christie at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Davis (3 straight), Lively II (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 107 a night to Washington's 131 and the arc, Washington at 37 percent from three to Dallas's 27. Call it Dallas 115, Washington 111, Washington keeping it close.

11/10 vs MIL — 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 105 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 26 from three, 25 free throws a game; Washington at 16 and Flagg at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Davis (4 straight), Lively II (6 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gia. Antetokounmpo at 32 and Kuzma at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Porter Jr. (9 straight), Prince (2 straight), Nance (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the arc, Milwaukee at 41 percent from three to Dallas's 26 and the defense, Dallas allowing 108 a night to Milwaukee's 122. Call it Dallas 115, Milwaukee 112, Milwaukee keeping it close.

11/12 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 26 from three, 25 free throws a game; Washington at 18 and Flagg at 16 a game. Without Davis (5 straight), Lively II (7 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 22 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Allen at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 43 percent from three to Dallas's 26 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-5 a night and Dallas minus-2. Call it Phoenix 113, Dallas 110, Dallas keeping it close.

11/14 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 29 from three, 25 free throws a game; Flagg at 17 and Marshall at 15 a game. Without Davis (6 straight), Nembhard (2 straight), Lively II (8 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 0-5 over their last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Harden at 24 and Zubac at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Leonard (5 straight). One day's rest. So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 36 percent from three to Dallas's 29 and the glass, where Dallas has been plus-1 a night and the Clippers minus-4. Call it Dallas 114, the Clippers 109.