The San Antonio Spurs clinched a playoff berth with a convincing win over the Orlando Magic, extending their unbeaten run to five games.
The defending NBA champions dominated the first half to set up the victory, ensuring that they will be in the playoffs for an 18th straight season.
The Magic cut the lead late on as the Spurs rested their starters, but Aron Baynes finished with 18 to keep the visitors comfortably ahead.
James Harden scored a career-high 51 to help the Houston Rockets to hold off a late rally from the Sacramento Kings.
The Rockets were nine points ahead inside the fourth quarter when the hosts cut the lead to just two points, but Harden added eight unanswered points to put the win beyond doubt.
The Los Angeles Clippers came from behind to claim victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, denying their opponents the chance to clinch the Northwest Division title.
The Clippers were 19 points behind in the first half, but Chris Paul scored a season-high 41 before JJ Redick added a run of late points to hold off Portland's last-gasp efforts.
The Brooklyn Nets are tied for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference after beating local rivals the New York Knicks.
The Nets opened up a 16-point advantage before the Knicks fought back, but Brook Lopez found the basket with two seconds remaining to hand Brooklyn a fifth straight win.
The Boston Celtics kept pace with the Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls as they clinched a win over the Indiana Pacers.
Kelly Olynyk overcame a pre-game eye injury to lead the scoring with 19, leaving the Celtics level on wins with Brooklyn and Miami.
A strong finish from the Milwaukee Bucks handed the side a narrow win over the Chicago Bulls, giving them just their third win in 11 outings.
Michael Carter-Williams led the team with 21 points before Ersan Ilyasova put the hosts ahead with just over a minute to play.
The Dallas Mavericks edged to a win in a high-scoring game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
There was little between the sides throughout and the scores were tied heading into the fourth quarter, but Chandler Parsons put the Mavericks ahead.
Monta Ellis led the scoring for Dallas with 26, while Russell Westbrook, Anthony Morrow and Enes Kanter all finished with 30 or more for the Thunder.
The New Orleans Pelicans thrashed the Los Angeles Lakers to close the gap to the Thunder, who occupy the final playoff place in the Western Conference.
Anthony Davis led the team with 20 points as the Pelicans surged ahead before half time, leaving them just two wins off eighth place.
The Toronto Raptors dominated the first half of their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves to leave their opponents on a four-game losing streak.
The Raptors were comfortable ahead at half time before extending their lead to 30 points midway through the fourth, with six players reaching double figures for the Canadian side.
The Charlotte Hornets thrashed the Detroit Pistons to keep them in contention for the final playoff place in the Eastern Conference.
The home side shared the scoring duties as Marvin Williams, Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson combined for 39, leaving the team just two wins behind Brooklyn and Miami, who are tied for seventh.
The Philadelphia 76ers slipped to a fourth straight defeat as they were well beaten by the Washington Wizards.
Marcin Gortat led the charge with 23 points and 14 rebounds, putting the hosts, who are already assured of a playoff place, 23 points up at half time.
The Utah Jazz recovered from a slow start to take a win over the Denver Nuggets with Rudy Gobert scoring a career-high 22.
The Jazz were seven points adrift at the end of the first quarter, but Gobert soon hit his stride, making all seven of his shots from the field to set Utah up for the win.
Results in full: Detroit Pistons 78-102 Charlotte Hornets, San Antonio Spurs 103-91 Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers 93-106 Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers 87-100 Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets 100-98 New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings 111-115 Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls 91-95 Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors 113-99 Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks 135-131 Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets 84-98 Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers 126-122 Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans 113-92 Los Angeles Lakers
