1/28 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Toronto comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Quickley at 22 and Ingram at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Poeltl (18 straight), Murray-Boyles (4 straight). 2 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 96, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 25 and Towns at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Clarkson (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-12 a night and Toronto plus-3 and the defense, New York allowing 96 a night to Toronto's 109. Call it Toronto 111, New York 110, New York keeping it close.

1/30 vs POR — 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 110 a night and allowing 94, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 23 and Anunoby at 16 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sharpe at 23 and Avdija at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Henderson (48 straight), Murray (11 straight), Thybulle (43 straight). 2 days' rest. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 94 a night to Portland's 109 and the arc, New York at 38 percent from three to Portland's 32. Call it New York 115, Portland 106.

2/01 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 90, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 24 and Anunoby at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without McBride (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and James at 19 a game. Without Reaves (18 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 90 a night to the Lakers' 116 and the glass, where New York has been plus-13 a night and the Lakers minus-2. Call it New York 118, the Lakers 108, New York by 10.

2/03 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 117, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Sarr at 21 and Johnson at 17 a game. Without Johnson (2 straight), Whitmore (27 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 97, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Anunoby at 23 and Brunson at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without McBride (3 straight), Clarkson (2 straight). One day's rest. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 97 a night to Washington's 117 and the glass, where New York has been plus-9 a night and Washington minus-4. Call it New York 116, Washington 110.