11/20 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 30 free throws a game; Fra. Wagner at 24 and Bane at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Banchero (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Harden at 33 and Zubac at 18 a game. Without Leonard (8 straight). 2 days' rest. So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-3 and the defense, Orlando allowing 109 a night to the Clippers' 119. Call it Orlando 118, the Clippers 111.

11/22 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bridges at 23 and Knueppel at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Miller (13 straight), Williams (8 straight), Green (7 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Harden at 32 and Zubac at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Leonard (9 straight), Jones Jr. (2 straight), Miller (2 straight). One day's rest. So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the arc, the Clippers at 37 percent from three to Charlotte's 32. Call it Charlotte 119, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.

11/23 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and Mobley at 17 a game. Without Merrill (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Harden at 38 and Zubac at 18 a game. Without Leonard (10 straight), Jones Jr. (3 straight), Miller (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 111 a night to the Clippers' 121 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-1 a night and the Clippers minus-3. Call it Cleveland 120, the Clippers 112.

11/25 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 31 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and Reaves at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Vanderbilt (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Harden at 34 and Zubac at 19 a game. Without Jones Jr. (4 straight), Miller (4 straight), Bogdanović (2 straight). One day's rest. So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-2 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 110 a night to the Clippers' 119. Call it the Lakers 119, the Clippers 111.