Boston Celtics surge up 2 spots in NBA Power Rankings

Last week: Lost at Miami 107-104, beat Portland 121-115, won at Clippers 120-107

This week: Monday vs. Detroit, Thursday at Chicago, Saturday at Orlando

The Utah Jazz have won seven of their last eight games after a 2-1 week that included the Jazz continuing their mastery of the Clippers in Los Angeles. Since Nov. 30, 2017, Utah has three double-digit wins over the Clips at Staples Center, including Saturday night’s 120-107 victory. Along the way, the Jazz had the NBA’s second-best offensive rating last week at 118.2.

One of the biggest sparks to the offensive surge has been Joe Ingles, who has started 11 straight games after starting the season — and struggling — as the team’s sixth man. Ingles averaged 22.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 35.7 minutes per game last week, shooting 58.5 percent overall and hitting an unconscious 60.0 percent on 10.0 3-point attempts per game.

Last week: Beat Dallas 110-107, lost at Indiana 120-115 (OT), lost to Boston 118-102, won at Boston 113-97

This week: Sunday vs. Oklahoma City, Tuesday vs. Cleveland, Thursday at Miami, Saturday at Brooklyn

The week turned out a 2-2 split for the Toronto Raptors, not a terrible outcome considering leading scorer Pascal Siakam has been sidelined with a groin injury. The home-and-home with the Celtics was interesting, with Boston winning by 16 at Toronto on Christmas Day and the Raptors returning the favor on the Celtics’ home floor Saturday with a 16-point win.

Veteran Kyle Lowry stepped up in a big way for the Raptors this week. Lowry put up 26.5 points, 8.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals in a whopping 40.3 minutes per game, shooting 48.6 percent overall and draining 42.9 percent of his 10.5 3-point attempts per game. Lowry had three 30-point games, including going for 32 points and 10 dimes in the win over the Mavericks.