The Golden State Warriors improved to 8-0 and remained the NBA's only unbeaten team thanks to a 109-95 victory over the Detroit Pistons in one of seven games on Monday night.
The defending champions used a big run at the start of the fourth quarter to pull away from Detroit as reigning MVP Stephen Curry (22 points) had his lowest-scoring night of the season. Klay Thompson led the way with 24 points on 10-17 shooting.
Sitting behind the Warriors in the Western Conference are the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers, who both have 5-2 records courtesy of wins last night.
San Antonio inflicted a sixth straight defeat on the Sacramento Kings by winning 106-88 at Sleep Train Arena.
Kings center DeMarcus Cousins had 21 points and 12 rebounds on his return from injury, but the Spurs bench came to life in the fourth quarter to help the visitors pull away.
The Clippers, meanwhile, edged past the Memphis Grizzlies 94-92 thanks to six straight points in the final 55 seconds from shooting-guard JJ Redick.
Blake Griffin also contributed 24 points and 12 rebounds for the home side, while Zach Randolph was the game's top scorer with 26 points in defeat for Memphis, who lost for the third game in a row.
The Minnesota Timberwolves earned an impressive win as they beat the 7-1 Atlanta Hawks 117-107 on the road for their fourth victory of the season.
Atlanta had won seven in a row going into the contest, but Andrew Wiggins equalled a career-high with 33 points as Minnesota held on for the win after almost blowing a 34-point lead.
The Denver Nuggets beat the Portland Trail Blazers for the first time in nine meetings with a four-point triumph at Pepsi Center.
Blazers guard Damian Lillard, with 30 points, was the game's top scorer, but JJ Hickson (19 points, 13 rebounds) and Emmanuel Mudiay (18 points) both made key free throws at the end of the contest to seal the win.
The Philadelphia 76ers slumped to 0-7 with a 111-88 defeat at home against the Chicago Bulls.
Including the end of last season, the Sixers have lost 17 straight after Nikola Mirotic (20 points, 10 rebounds) guided the Bulls to their fifth win of the campaign.
Paul George again led the way for the Indiana Pacers as they won for the fourth time in five games with victory over the Orlando Magic.
George had 27 points and seven assists as Indiana used a 19-3 fourth-quarter run to improve to 4-4.
Results in full: Orlando Magic 84-97 Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls 111-88 Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves 117-107 Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers 104-108 Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs 106-88 Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons 95-109 Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies 92-94 Los Angeles Clippers
Pascal Lemesre
