At the 19th time of asking this season, the Philadelphia 76ers finally earned an NBA win by overcoming the Los Angeles Lakers in one of six Tuesday night affairs.
The Sixers had begun 2015-16 0-18 to tie the worst ever start to a campaign, but ensured that they would not set a new mark by defeating fellow strugglers LA 103-91 at Wells Fargo Center.
The Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers were beaten at home for the first time this season as John Wall led the Washington Wizards to a surprise win.
The Wizards had lost four in a row, but never trailed at Quicken Loans Arena as Wall put up a season-high 35 points to go with 10 assists.
There was overtime at Moda Center and it was the visiting Dallas Mavericks who edged a close contest against the Portland Trail Blazers 115-112.
It was a first win in five on the road for the Mavs as Deron Williams (30) and Dirk Nowitzki (28) combined for 58 points. while the returning Wesley Matthews scored 18 against his former team.
Marc Gasol starred for the Memphis Grizzlies as they overcame the New Orleans Pelicans 113-104 at Smoothie King Center.
The Spanish center scored a season-high 38 points and 13 rebounds and also led Memphis in assists (6) as the Pelicans lost for the 14th time in 18 games this season.
The Brooklyn Nets recorded their fourth home win in a row by fighting back to oust the Phoenix Suns 94-91 at Barclays Center.
Phoenix led by as many as nine in the fourth quarter, but then went cold as Brooklyn claimed victory, with Brook Lopez finishing with 23 points.
The Orlando Magic are on a four-game winning streak for the first time in three years following a 96-93 success at the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Magic were up by 17 in the third quarter before a Minnesota comeback tied the game with four minutes remaining, but Orlando came through for another victory.
Results in full: Washington Wizards 97-85 Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers 91-103 Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns 91-94 Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic 96-93 Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies 113-104 New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks 115-112 Portland Trail Blazers
Pascal Lemesre
