1/17 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 41 from three, 26 free throws a game; Murray at 30 and Watson at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Jokić (9 straight), Braun (3 straight), Johnson (12 straight). 2 days' rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Johnson at 16 and George at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Cooper (22 straight), Whitmore (19 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to Washington's 31 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 17 times a game to Denver's 10. Call it Denver 122, Washington 109, Denver by 13.

1/19 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 24 free throws a game; George at 17 and Sarr at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Coulibaly (2 straight), Cooper (23 straight), Whitmore (20 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Harden at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Collins (2 straight), Jones Jr. (7 straight), Bogdanović (11 straight). 2 days' rest. So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 106 a night to Washington's 122 and the arc, the Clippers at 40 percent from three to Washington's 30. Call it the Clippers 117, Washington 111.

1/22 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; George at 18 and Sarr at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Coulibaly (3 straight), Gill (2 straight), Cooper (24 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murray at 31 and Watson at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 16 a night. Without Jokić (12 straight), Braun (6 straight), Johnson (15 straight). One day's rest. So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Washington has been plus-0 a night and Denver minus-16 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 8. Call it Denver 117, Washington 113, Washington keeping it close.

1/24 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Charlotte comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Miller at 24 and Knueppel at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Hall (7 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 117, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; George at 21 and Sarr at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Coulibaly (4 straight), Cooper (25 straight), Whitmore (22 straight). One day's rest. So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-9 a night and Washington minus-0 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 106 a night to Washington's 117. Call it Charlotte 119, Washington 109, Charlotte by 10.