Milwaukee Bucks remain atop NBA Power Rankings by taking care of business

Last week: Lost to Oklahoma City 98-97, beat Cleveland 117-97, lost at Miami 84-76, won at Brooklyn 121-102

This week: Tuesday vs. Portland, Wednesday at Charlotte

The Toronto Raptors were one of the busiest teams during New Year’s week, splitting four games with an offensive line chart that featured peaks and valleys and very little consistency. In their two wins, the Raptors averaged 119.0 points per game while shooting 46.4 percent overall and 42.3 percent from 3-point range.

But in their two losses? Woof. Toronto averaged 86.5 points per game while shooting 36.6 percent overall and making only 25.6 percent from deep. They had 28 turnovers in the two losses, as opposed to 20 in the wins. Because, as the finest analytical minds in the game will tell you, making shots and not turning the ball over will help in that whole process of winning … thing.

Kyle Lowry averaged 21.3 points, 6.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks (no, really!) in 39.3 minutes per game, but his shooting was not pretty. Lowry shot 35.9 percent for the week, including 31.0 percent on 10.5 3-pointers per game. Overall in four games, the Raptors made 41.6 percent over their shots, with a 33.3 percent conversion rate from long range.

Last week: Lost at Washington 123-105, beat Toronto 84-76, lost at Orlando 105-85

This week: Sunday vs. Portland, Wednesday at Indiana, Friday at Brooklyn

The Miami Heat pulled a pair of absolute clunkers out of the bag during their two road games this week, losing Monday by 18 at short-handed Washington before trumping that with a 20-point beatdown from Orlando on Friday. In between, the Heat were able to beat the Raptors at home in a game that featured a total of 160 points — reminiscent of Pat Riley‘s 1990s coaching tenure.

Miami shot 39.1 percent over its last two games and made just 25.7 percent from 3-point range. The Heat were able to outlast Toronto on the back of their defense, while held the Raptors to just 31.5 percent shooting — including a dismal 6-for-42 (14.3 percent) from 3-point range.

Jimmy Butler had the same sort of up-and-down week for the Heat, but he was good in the losses and bad in the win. He averaged 19.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.7 steals in 35.1 minutes per game, shooting 56.9 percent overall and going 0-for-2 from deep. He took 37 free throws in three games, including 19 in the loss at Washington, making 15 and scoring 27 points.