The San Antonio Spurs lost for just the fifth time this season as the Toronto Raptors edged one of 10 Wednesday night NBA games 97-94 at Air Canada Centre.
DeMar DeRozan starred with 28 points on 10-15 shooting as Toronto snapped the Spurs' four-game winning streak and improved to 14-9 themselves, just one game behind the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.
Just above the Raptors in the standings are the Charlotte Hornets, who sit at 13-8 after a convincing 99-81 success over the Miami Heat for their third straight win.
Nicolas Batum had a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as the Heat lost for the third time in five games.
In another all-Eastern Conference tussle, the Boston Celtics overcame the Chicago Bulls 105-100, despite a 36-point display from Jimmy Butler.
The Celtics, led by Isaiah Thomas's 20, had eight players in double figures as they won for the fourth time in five games.
James Harden put up 42 points as the Houston Rockets powered past the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center.
The shooting guard also contributed nine rebounds and seven assists as Washington lost for the seventh time in 11 home games this term.
There was late drama at the Palace of Auburn Hills as the Memphis Grizzlies ousted the Detroit Pistons 93-92.
Trailing by two, Matt Barnes surged up court with time running out and connected on a heave from just inside half-court to stun the hosts.
Meanwhile, at Target Center overtime was needed to separate the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves, and it was the hosting Wolves who came through 123-122.
Kevin Martin scored 37 and rookie Karl-Anthony Towns added 26 points and 14 rebounds as Minnesota ended a four-game losing streak and won for only the third time in 12 home games this season.
In a close game that featured 20 lead changes and 11 ties, the Atlanta Hawks came out on top 98-95 away at the Dallas Mavericks.
Paul Millsap top-scored with 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Hawks kept pace with those around them in what is a congested top of the Eastern Conference.
A big second half helped the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 109-95 at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
It was a third straight win for Doc Rivers's side as shooting-guard JJ Redick put up 31 points on 11-18 shooting that included 6-9 from three-point range.
The New York Knicks suffered their third straight defeat by going down 106-85 at the Utah Jazz.
Carmelo Anthony was the Knicks' top scorer with only 12 as Gordon Hayward (24) led the way for Utah.
The Phoenix Suns made it back-to-back wins after four losses in a row by downing the Orlando Magic 107-104.
Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight both scored 21 for the hosts as they fended off Orlando in the closing minutes.
Results in full: Chicago Bulls 100-105 Boston Celtics, Miami Heat 81-99 Charlotte Hornets, Houston Rockets 109-103 Washington Wizards, Memphis Grizzlies 93-92 Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs 94-97 Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers 109-95 Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers 122-123 Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic 104-107 Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks 85-106 Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks 98-95 Dallas Mavericks
Pascal Lemesre
