Boston Celtics surge up 2 spots in NBA Power Rankings

Last week: Beat Clippers 118-112, lost to Memphis 110-97, won at Charlotte 104-102 (OT)

This week: Sunday at Toronto, Tuesday vs. Dallas, Thursday at San Antonio, Saturday at Cleveland

The Oklahoma City Thunder had an up-and-down week, picking up their fourth straight win on Sunday by beating the Clippers before getting beaten at home by Memphis on Thursday. They recovered to win in Charlotte the next night, squandering a 16-point lead before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s free throws with 8.4 seconds left put them up for good.

OKC still had to survive a pair of free throws with 1.9 seconds left after Gilgeous-Alexander fouled Charlotte’s PJ Washington. It was still a tremendous week for SGA, who averaged 26.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals in 35.9 minutes per game, hitting 49.2 percent overall and going 4-for-10 from 3-point range. He had 32 points in the win over his former Clippers team.

Last week: Lost at Milwaukee 117-89, beat Toronto 120-115 (OT), lost at Miami 113-112, lost at New Orleans 120-98

This week: Tuesday vs. Philadelphia, Thursday vs. Denver, Saturday at Atlanta

Well … the Indiana Pacers didn’t see that coming. After winning six in a row and nine of 11 entering the week, the Pacers went 1-3, including two blowout losses on the road. Getting blasted at NBA-leading Milwaukee is one thing. But getting crushed by a New Orleans club that recently lost a franchise-record 13 straight games is another thing entirely.

In the midst of the struggles, second-year guard Aaron Holiday had himself one heck of a week, averaging 18.0 points, 6.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 31.5 minutes per game as he has filled in for injured Malcolm Brogdon. Holiday shot 46.4 percent overall and hit 44.0 percent on 6.3 3-point attempts per game.