12/22 vs DET — 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 117 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sharpe at 24 and Avdija at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Holiday (16 straight), Henderson (28 straight), Thybulle (23 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Cunningham at 24 and Duren at 14 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest. So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-10 a night and Portland minus-4 and the defense, Detroit allowing 107 a night to Portland's 124. Call it Detroit 120, Portland 115.

12/23 vs ORL — 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 118 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Sharpe at 26 and Avdija at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Holiday (17 straight), Grant (2 straight), Henderson (29 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bane at 22 and Banchero at 21 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (4 straight), Suggs (3 straight), da Silva (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-2 a night and Portland minus-4 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 18 times a game to Orlando's 13. Call it Portland 118, Orlando 117, Orlando keeping it close.

12/26 vs LAC — 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 BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 28 free throws a game; Avdija at 26 and Sharpe at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Holiday (19 straight), Grant (4 straight), Henderson (31 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brown at 31 and White at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 18 times a game to Boston's 12 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-7 a night and Portland plus-1. Call it Boston 116, Portland 112, Portland keeping it close.