12/20 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 0-5 over their last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 22 and Harden at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Jones Jr. (14 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 32 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and James at 26 a game. Without Reaves (2 straight). One day's rest. So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 32 free throws a game to the Clippers' 22 and the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 17 times a game to the Lakers' 13. Call it the Lakers 116, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.

12/23 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 22 a game. Without Jones Jr. (15 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Finney-Smith (26 straight). One day's rest. So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and the Clippers plus-0 and the arc, Houston at 42 percent from three to the Clippers' 35. Call it Houston 116, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.

12/26 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Sharpe at 26 and Avdija at 26 a game. Without Holiday (18 straight), Grant (3 straight), Henderson (30 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Harden at 21 a game. Without Jones Jr. (16 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 30 free throws a game to the Clippers' 23 and the arc, the Clippers at 39 percent from three to Portland's 34. Call it Portland 116, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.

12/28 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and Harden at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Zubac (2 straight), Jones Jr. (17 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Cunningham at 23 and Duren at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 42 percent from three to Detroit's 32 and the glass, where Detroit has been plus-8 a night and the Clippers plus-1. Call it Detroit 115, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.