1/31 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Embiid at 34 and Maxey at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Grimes (2 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 42 percent and 27 from three, 26 free throws a game; Bey at 24 and Williamson at 19 a game. Without Murray (20 straight), Poole (3 straight), McGowens (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-10 and the arc, Philadelphia at 37 percent from three to New Orleans's 27. Call it Philadelphia 118, New Orleans 113.

2/02 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 20 a game. They have won the glass by 10 a night. Without Jones Jr. (14 straight), Bogdanović (18 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Embiid at 36 and Maxey at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-10 a night and Philadelphia minus-9 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 102 a night to Philadelphia's 118. Call it the Clippers 116, Philadelphia 111.

2/03 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ste. Curry at 28 and Melton at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Cryer (3 straight), Payton II (2 straight). 3 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Embiid at 32 and Maxey at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without George (2 straight), Drummond (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the arc, Philadelphia at 42 percent from three to Golden State's 33 and the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 16 times a game to Philadelphia's 9. Call it Golden State 118, Philadelphia 114, Philadelphia keeping it close.

2/05 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 116, shooting 53 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 33 and James at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 22 free throws a game; Embiid at 32 and Maxey at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without George (3 straight). One day's rest. So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been plus-4 a night and the Lakers minus-5 and the arc, Philadelphia at 43 percent from three to the Lakers' 34. Call it the Lakers 117, Philadelphia 116, Philadelphia keeping it close.