Kawhi Leonard showcased his defensive prowess as the San Antonio Spurs put an end to the Golden State Warriors' 12-game winning streak in one of seven NBA games on Sunday.
The reigning Finals MVP equalled his career-high for scoring with 26 points and also grabbed a career-high seven steals as the Spurs extended their own hot streak to seven games.
In the day's first game, MVP candidates James Harden and Russell Westbrook went toe to toe and it was Harden's Houston Rockets that came through Westbrook's Oklahoma City Thunder in a high-scoring affair.
The duo both entered the game averaging a league-high 27.5 points and put on a show, with Harden dropping 41 points and Westbrook adding his 11th triple-double of the season (40 points, 13 assists, 11 rebounds).
The early showdown at Chesapeake Energy Arena was followed by another heavyweight matchup as two of the favourites to win the Eastern Conference did battle, and it was the Cleveland Cavaliers who came through over the Chicago Bulls.
LeBron James had his first triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists) since returning to Cleveland as the Cavs won for the 18th consecutive time at home.
Paul George made his first appearance of the season and helped the Indiana Pacers to a big win over the Miami Heat in a key game in the race for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The small-forward has recovered from a gruesome broken leg suffered eight months ago and scored 13 points in 15 minutes of action as Indiana drew level with the Heat, who have lost four in a row, at 34-43, one game behind the Boston Celtics in eighth.
The Los Angeles Clippers inflicted a club-record 56th defeat of the season on fellow LA side the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center.
The Lakers were in danger of also scoring their lowest ever NBA total, but managed to surpass 70 points in the final minutes as the Clippers continued their charge towards the top three in the West.
The Utah Jazz inflicted a fifth straight defeat on the Sacramento Kings in a Western Conference game between two sides out of playoff running.
Rodney Hood scored 13 of his season-high 25 points in the fourth quarter to help the visiting Jazz pull away at Sleep Train Arena.
In an Eastern Conference basement battle, the New York Knicks won their first game in 10 by overcoming the Philadelphia 76ers.
Andrea Bargnani scored 25 points and brought down eight rebounds for the hosts, while Shane Larkin also chipped in with a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds).
Results in full: Houston Rockets 115-112 Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls 94-99 Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat 89-112 Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors 92-107 San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers 91-101 New York Knicks, Utah Jazz 101-95 Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers 106-78 Los Angeles Lakers
Pascal Lemesre
