Stephen Curry again came up with the goods as the Golden State Warriors preserved their unbeaten start to the NBA season with a closely-fought 106-103 victory over the Utah Jazz in one of eight Monday night matches.
Curry, the reigning MVP, scored 10 of his 26 points in the final six minutes as the Warriors, after last week setting the mark for the best ever start to a season, reached 19-0.
The San Antonio Spurs remain the closest team to the Warriors in the Western Conference, but they saw their five-game winning streak ended by the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
Pau Gasol put up 18 points and 13 rebounds and also made a crucial late block on LaMarcus Aldridge to preserve the Bulls' slim lead.
The Oklahoma City Thunder tasted defeat for the first time in five games by going down 106-100 away at the Atlanta Hawks.
Russell Westbrook posted 34 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder, but it was Jeff Teague (25 points) and Paul Millsap (26 points, 11 rebounds) that helped the Hawks over the line as OKC ran out of steam late on.
A strong shooting display propelled the Detroit Pistons to a 116-105 victory over the Houston Rockets at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Pistons shot over 50% from the field as Andre Drummond scored 24 points and brought down 13 rebounds. The center did, however, struggle from the free-throw line, making just four of 18 foul shots.
Another big-man who struggles with free throws is Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan and he was sent to the line 34 times by the Portland Trail Blazers, connecting on only 12.
The center did grab a season-high 24 rebounds and post 18 points, though, as the Clippers pulled away from the Portland Trail Blazers in the second half to win 102-87 at Staples Center.
DeMarcus Cousins returned from a three-game absence and led the Sacramento Kings to a 112-98 triumph over the Dallas Mavericks.
Cousins scored 31 points, 16 of which came in the fourth quarter, and also led his team in rebounds (9) and assists (6) as the Kings won for the first time in seven against Dallas.
Two struggling sides met at BMO Harris Bradley Center, and it was the hosting Milwaukee Bucks that found some form to see off the Denver Nuggets 92-74.
Denver have now lost seven in a row after Greg Monroe (18 points on 8-11 shooting) and Michael Carter-Williams (12 on 5-9) both shot well to power the Bucks to victory.
Avery Bradley starred as the Boston Celtics overcame the Miami Heat 105-95 for their first win in four away games.
Bradley scored 25 on 9-15 shooting as Boston held off the Heat, who got 30 points from Dwyane Wade, in the second half.
Results in full: Houston Rockets 105-116 Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics 105-95 Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder 100-106 Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs 89-92 Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets 74-92 Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors 106-103 Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks 98-112 Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers 87-102 Los Angeles Clippers
Pascal Lemesre
