12/05 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Anunoby (9 straight), Shamet (6 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and George at 23 a game. Without Kessler (16 straight), Harkless (7 straight), Tshiebwe (21 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 106 a night to Utah's 123 and the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and Utah minus-3. Call it New York 124, Utah 113, New York by 11.

12/07 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Shamet (7 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 27 free throws a game; Fra. Wagner at 25 and Bane at 22 a game. One day's rest. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 40 percent from three to Orlando's 30 and the glass, where New York has been plus-7 a night and Orlando plus-0. Call it New York 118, Orlando 114, Orlando keeping it close.

12/09 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Barnes at 20 and Quickley at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Barrett (8 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Towns at 26 and Brunson at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Shamet (8 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and Toronto minus-4 and the defense, New York allowing 107 a night to Toronto's 118. Call it New York 117, Toronto 112.

12/13 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Fra. Wagner at 22 and Bane at 22 a game. 3 days' rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brunson at 28 and Towns at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Shamet (9 straight). 3 days' rest. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 41 percent from three to Orlando's 34. Call it New York 115, Orlando 114, Orlando keeping it close.