Russell Westbrook had a big impact in his return to action with the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 32 as the team crushed the New York Knicks.
The guard missed the last month with a broken hand, but had an immediate impact on his comeback, helping the home side open up a commanding 17-point lead by the end of the first quarter.
Missing their top scorer Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks struggled to stretch their opponents as they slumped to their 13th defeat of the season.
The Golden State Warriors overcame a first-half deficit to secure a narrow win against the Charlotte Hornets and extend their unbeaten run to eight games.
Brian Roberts helped the home side open up an early lead, but Marreese Speights came off the bench, scoring 16 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to inflict an eighth straight defeat on the Hornets.
The Memphis Grizzlies became the first team in the league to reach the 14-win mark as they cruised to victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
The home side had been on a nine-game winning streak, but Marc Gasol and Mike Conley combined for 47 to leave the Grizzlies with the best record in the NBA.
The San Antonio Spurs were without coach Gregg Popovich again, but shot well in the first half to clinch a win over the Sacramento Kings.
The veteran coach has been recovering from an undisclosed medical procedure, and saw his side make it nine wins in their last 10 games, with Tony Parker leading the scoring.
The Toronto Raptors lost for just the third time this season, but still sit at the top of the Eastern Conference following their defeat to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Canadian side had won their previous six games, but a 30-point game from Monta Ellis, which included 15 in the fourth quarter, made sure that the Raptors' run did not continue.
Kobe Bryant missed a last-gasp three-pointer attempt as the Los Angeles Lakers slipped to a single-point defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Rookie Zach LaVine gave the visitors the lead with a strong shooting performance before the break, while Bryant and Nick Young made it close late on, but the Lakers could not complete the comeback.
The Los Angeles Clippers eased to a comfortable win over the Houston Rockets in their sixth of a seven-game spell away from home.
Despite their recent travels, the Clippers looked fresh as they edged ahead in the first quarter, and never looked like getting caught as Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford kept the score ticking over.
The Chicago Bulls needed a dominant fourth-quarter performance to secure a narrow win over the Boston Celtics.
The visitors were down by 11 points at the end of the first quarter, but Derrick Rose added a series of shots after the break, while Jimmy Butler added some late free throws to complete the comeback.
A solid first half helped set up a win for the Atlanta Hawks as the New Orleans Pelicans visited the Philips Arena.
Jeff Teague led the side in scoring, ensuring that the hosts never fell behind after the first quarter, despite Ryan Anderson and Jrue Holiday combining for 40.
The Denver Nuggets thrashed the Phoenix Suns, giving them a big win over a side that beat them four times last season.
Seven Nuggets players were in double figures, with Arron Afflalo leading the way with 22 to move the Nuggets to an 8-8 record.
The Orlando Magic showed no signed of turning around their form as they made it four straight losses with a defeat to the Indiana Pacers.
There was little between the two sides in the first half, but Rodney Stuckey and David West, who was making his first start this season, ensured that the Pacers opened up a lead.
The Detroit Pistons' slump continued as they slipped to a seventh straight defeat, losing to the Milwaukee Bucks.
None of the visiting team's starters made it into double points, but the Bucks scored 69 off the bench to pick up their third win in a row.
Results in full: Chicago Bulls 109-102 Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors 106-101 Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans 91-100 Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks 104-88 Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks 106-102 Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers 102-85 Houston Rockets, New York Knicks 78-105 Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic 83-98 Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings 104-112 San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns 97-122 Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies 112-99 Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves 120-119 Los Angeles Lakers
Sian Cowper
