1/14 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and LaVine at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Murray (4 straight), Sabonis (26 straight), Plowden (28 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Towns at 17 a game. Without Shamet (23 straight). 2 days' rest. So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-2 a night and Sacramento minus-8 and the turnovers, New York giving it away 15 times a game to Sacramento's 11. Call it New York 115, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.

1/16 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and LaVine at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Murray (5 straight), Sabonis (27 straight), Plowden (29 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sarr at 15 and George at 14 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Watkins (8 straight), Cooper (21 straight), Whitmore (18 straight). One day's rest. So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 38 percent from three to Washington's 31 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 18 times a game to Sacramento's 12. Call it Sacramento 117, Washington 111.

1/18 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 113, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 24 and Westbrook at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Murray (6 straight), Plowden (30 straight), Carter (4 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sharpe at 22 and Love at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Avdija (3 straight), Henderson (43 straight), Murray (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 43 percent from three to Portland's 33 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-4 a night and Sacramento minus-0. Call it Sacramento 116, Portland 114, Portland keeping it close.

1/20 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 24 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and Westbrook at 21 a game. Without Murray (7 straight), Plowden (31 straight), Carter (5 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Powell at 23 and Herro at 21 a game. Without Herro (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 109 a night to Miami's 124 and the arc, Sacramento at 44 percent from three to Miami's 38. Call it Sacramento 119, Miami 115, Miami keeping it close.