The Memphis Grizzlies returned to winning ways after two straight losses with a 103-87 victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday evening.
Jon Leuer came up big for the home side at FedExForum with a season-high 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Dwyane Wade led all scorers with 25 as the Heat suffered their fourth consecutive loss.
In the day's early game, Rajon Rondo's triple-double helped the Boston Celtics record their third straight win in a 101-93 triumph over the Washington Wizards.
The point-guard had 13 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists as the Celtics held on in the late stages after surrendering a hefty lead.
The Atlanta Hawks now have the joint second-best record in the East with the Wizards after their sixth straight win yesterday afternoon.
They beat the Denver Nuggets 96-84, with Paul Millsap top-scoring for the hosts while Wilson Chandler's season-high of 29 led all scorers.
The Dallas Mavericks poured in the biggest total of the night as they cruised past the Milwaukee Bucks 125-102.
Chandler Parsons led the way with 28 points on 11-14 shooting as the Mavs finished the game shooting 58.3% from the field.
The flailing Detroit Pistons lost their 12th game in a row as the rejuvenated Oklahoma City Thunder left with a slim 96-94 victory at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Detroit led for much of the game until a third-quarter rally by the Thunder, whose superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 50 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists.
LaMarcus Aldridge and Carmelo Anthony went toe-to-toe at Madison Square Garden and it was the former's Portland Trail Blazers that edged a tight game 103-99 over the New York Knicks.
Aldridge had 24 points and 11 rebounds while Anthony contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who lost their eighth game in a row.
MVP candidate Anthony Davis put in another strong display with 23 points to help the New Orleans Pelicans ease past the Los Angeles Lakers 104-87 at Staples Center.
Kobe Bryant only managed 14 points in defeat for LA and there is now a three-way tie at the top of the NBA's scoring charts, with Bryant, Davis and James Harden of the Houston Rockets all averaging 25.2 points a game.
Results in full: Washington Wizards 93-101 Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets 84-96 Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat 87-103 Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder 96-94 Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks 102-125 Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers 103-99 New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans 104-87 Los Angeles Lakers
Pascal Lemesre
