The Toronto Raptors have started an NBA season with four straight wins for the first time in their history courtesy of an 11-point victory away at the Dallas Mavericks in one of seven games on Tuesday.
Kyle Lowry starred with a game-high 27 points and 10 assists as Toronto spoiled the Mavericks' first home game of the season.
The Charlotte Hornets ended their three-game losing streak to start the new season by blowing away the Chicago Bulls 130-105 at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Jeremy Lamb, a day after signing a three-year contract extension, went 9-10 from the field for 20 points as the Hornets shot over 60% from three-point range to cruise past Chicago, who were led by Jimmy Butler's 26 points.
At the Palace of Auburn Hills, the unbeaten Detroit Pistons hosted the winless Indiana Pacers and it was the Pacers who upset the form book to get their first win of the season.
Pistons center Andre Drummond had a second straight 20-20 game with 25 points and a career-high 29 rebounds, but it was Indiana, led by Rodney Stuckey's 23 points off the bench, that eased to a 94-82 victory.
The Atlanta Hawks lost their first match of the season last week, but since then have won four in a row to seemingly return to the form that saw them finish with the best Eastern Conference record last season.
Last night they toppled the Miami Heat 98-92 on the road thanks to Jeff Teague's 26 points and nine assists. Hassan Whiteside impressed for the Heat with 23 points on 11-12 shooting, but his teammates shot just 17.9% from beyond the arc.
After getting crushed by 50 points the night before, the Memphis Grizzlies were back to winning ways as they overcame the Sacramento Kings 103-89 at Sleep Train Arena.
Zach Randolph top-scored with 20 points as Memphis improved to 3-2. The Kings were without injured All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins and struggled to cope with the Grizzlies' defence.
The New Orleans Pelicans are still waiting for their first win of the season after suffering a fourth straight defeat at home against the Orlando Magic.
New Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry has not enjoyed an easy start and his side again gave up 100 points as Evan Fournier's career-high 30 points led the Magic to their first victory of the campaign.
Another team 0-4 are the Los Angeles Lakers, who went down 120-109 at home against the Denver Nuggets.
Jordan Clarkson matched his career high with 30 points for the hosts, but Denver got their second win of the campaign as Kenneth Faried missed just three shots on his way to 28 points, as well as pulling down 15 rebounds.
Results in full: Chicago Bulls 105-130 Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers 94-82 Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks 98-92 Miami Heat, Orlando Magic 103-94 New Orleans Pelicans, Toronto Raptors 102-91 Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies 103-89 Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets 120-109 Los Angeles Lakers
Pascal Lemesre
