The Golden State Warriors extended the best start in NBA history to 20-0 with a comfortable victory over the Charlotte Hornets in one of nine Wednesday night games.
Point guard Stephen Curry again dazzled with a 28-point third quarter that gave the reigning MVP 40 in total and allowed him to not play the fourth quarter with the Warriors' lead so great.
The Warriors are only the second team in US sports history to start a season with 20 straight wins, and the first in 131 years after the 1884 St Louis Maroons achieved the feat in MLB.
Behind the Warriors in the Western Conference are the San Antonio Spurs, and they are still unbeaten at home this season following a comprehensive 95-70 success over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Veteran big-man Tim Duncan posted 16 points and 10 rebounds in just 19 minutes, with the Spurs now 10-0 at AT&T Center.
Overtime was needed at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and it was the hosting Detroit Pistons who outlasted the Phoenix Suns 127-122.
Reggie Jackson, with 34 points and 16 assists, led the charge as the Pistons rallied from 16 down in the fourth to force overtime before winning the extra period.
There was a big surprise at Verizon Center as the Los Angeles Lakers won for the first time in eight games by downing the Washington Wizards.
A day after giving the Philadelphia 76ers their first win of the season, Kobe Bryant returned to form with 31 points as the Lakers held off the Wizards 108-104. Washington had inflicted a first home defeat on the Cleveland Cavaliers the day before.
The Los Angeles Clippers' winning streak ended at three games as the Indiana Pacers, who have now won six straight, came out on top 103-91 at Staples Center.
Paul George again starred for the Pacers with 31 points and 10 rebounds as they moved within one win of the Cleveland Cavaliers at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Kyle Lowry powered the Toronto Raptors to a second-half fightback as they stunned the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena.
The point guard scored 22 of his season-high 31 points in the fourth quarter as Toronto overcame a 17-point third-quarter deficit to win by 10 points and improve to 12-7.
After finally winning at the 19th attempt this season on Tuesday, the Philadelphia 76ers were back to losing ways as they fell 87-99 to the New York Knicks.
With Sixers center Jahlil Okafor serving the first of a two-game team suspension related to off-court incidents, Kristaps Porzingis, the man who was picked one place after Okafor in this year's Draft, impressed with 17 points and 10 rebounds, the Latvian's ninth double-double of the season.
The New Orleans Pelicans' struggles continued as they fell to their 10th defeat in 11 away games against the Houston Rockets.
Despite Anthony Davis's 29 points and 13 rebounds, James Harden (24 points) led the way for Houston as they improved to 8-11.
The Denver Nuggets fell to their eighth defeat in a row at the hands of the Chicago Bulls.
Pau Gasol stood out with 26 points and 19 rebounds as the Bulls won for the seventh time in eight home games this season.
Results in full: Golden State Warriors 116-99 Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers 108-104 Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns 122-127 Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers 87-99 New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors 96-86 Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets 90-99 Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans 101-108 Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks 70-95 San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers 103-91 Los Angeles Clippers
Pascal Lemesre
