1/11 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Brooks at 21 a game. Without Green (28 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; McCollum at 21 and Sarr at 16 a game. Without Riley (2 straight), Watkins (6 straight), Cooper (19 straight). One day's rest. So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 102 a night to Washington's 122 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 18 times a game to Phoenix's 12. Call it Phoenix 120, Washington 109, Phoenix by 11.

1/14 @ 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 110 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and Harden at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones Jr. (5 straight), Bogdanović (9 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 125, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sarr at 16 and Johnson at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Watkins (7 straight), Cooper (20 straight), Whitmore (17 straight). 2 days' rest. So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 106 a night to Washington's 125 and the arc, the Clippers at 39 percent from three to Washington's 32. Call it the Clippers 119, Washington 109, the Clippers by 10.

1/16 @ SAC — 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.

1/17 @ 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.