Defending NBA champions the San Antonio Spurs continued their improved form on Sunday night as they beat the Memphis Grizzlies for their 13th win in 16 matches.
In one of nine games yesterday, the Spurs handed the stuttering Grizzlies their third defeat in a row as Kawhi Leonard took over in the fourth quarter to finish with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Dwyane Wade inspired the Miami Heat to victory over the Detroit Pistons with a 40-point performance at American Airlines Arena.
Andre Drummond had 32 points and 14 rebounds for Detroit, but they saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.
In the day's early game, the Houston Rockets were too strong for the hosting Washington Wizards at Verizon Center.
John Wall was the leading scorer (25 points) and assister (12), but Houston eked out an eight-point triumph to extend their winning streak to four games.
The in-form Los Angeles Clippers claimed their seventh win in a row with a dominant display at the Boston Celtics.
Sharp-shooter JJ Redick led all scorers with 27 on 11-15 shooting as the Clippers moved to within a game of third-placed Memphis in the standings.
With Boston losing, the Brooklyn Nets now occupy the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference following their victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, their third consecutive win.
Brook Lopez was again the standout player for the Nets as he recorded his third 30-point game in four outings (30 points, 11 rebounds).
The Indiana Pacers moved level with the Celtics a half-game behind the Nets in the playoff race by seeing off the Dallas Mavericks at home.
Indiana won their first game in five at Bankers Life Fieldhouse as CJ Miles scored the final five points to take his game-high total to 28.
The Cleveland Cavaliers avoided a shock by edging out the lowly Philadelphia 76ers in a single-point game at Quicken Loans Arena.
LeBron James led the Cavs in points (20), rebounds (11) and assists (6), but shot just 8-24 from the field.
The Oklahoma City Thunder edged closer to securing the eighth seed in the West with a comeback win at the Phoenix Suns.
The hosts led by as many as 20 in the first half before OKC rallied to run out 12-point winners, with Russell Westbrook notching 33 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
The New Orleans Pelicans are still just about in touch with the Thunder in the West's playoff race as they eased to victory over the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves.
Anthony Davis added another classy display with 28 points and nine rebounds as the Pelicans won their second in a row.
Results in full: Houston Rockets 99-91 Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers 99-107 Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves 88-110 New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers 86-87 Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers 119-106 Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons 102-109 Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies 89-103 San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks 99-104 Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder 109-97 Phoenix Suns
Pascal Lemesre
