Jeff Green's game-high 27 points were enough to lead the Boston Celtics to a 118-111 victory over the Detroit Pistons at the TD Garden on Sunday night.
Boston's Rajon Rondo was also in the headlines as he became the fifth highest assist-maker in the team's history, passing Bill Russell with 4,101 contributions.
In Chicago, the Miami Heat capitulated to their third loss in a row as they were beaten 95-88 in overtime by the Chicago Bulls.
D.J. Augustin led the Bulls with 22 points, while in-form center Joakim Noah contributed 20 points and 12 rebounds for his side, who pushed ahead by scoring nine points in the extra period.
Kyle Lowry notched a triple-double of 20 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for the Toronto Raptors, as they overcame the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 111-104 victory at the Target Center.
The Indiana Pacers have now gone four games without a win, the first time since the 2011-12 season, as they were beaten 105-94 by the Dallas Mavericks.
Monta Ellis and Devin Harris were among six Mavericks scorers in double figures, with the hosts edging to a victory at the American Airlines Center.
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Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Jodie Meeks scored a career-high 42 points for the Los Angeles Lakers as they beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 114-110 at the Staples Center.
Marcus Thornton was the dominant presence in New York as the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Sacramento Kings with a 104-89 win at the Barclays Center.
Thornton led the scoring for his side as he collected 27 points on 11-for-15 shooting, which was just about enough to help lift the Nets, who were almost undone by game-leading scorer DeMarcus Cousins, who notched 28 points on the night.
James Harden joined Michael Jordan as the only players to register 41 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and six steals since the 1985-86 season, as the Houston Rockets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 119-113 at the Toyota Center.
The Rockets were somehow able to turn around a 13-point, fourth-period deficit, with Jeremy Lin also on form as he scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and overtime session.
David Lee's game-high 26 points were enough to see the Golden State Warriors grab an important 113-107 win over playoff rivals Phoenix Suns, with Stephen Curry also standing up with 18 points in 30 minutes.
Finally, the New Orleans Pelicans were able to collect their third win a row as they emerged victorious in a 111-107 overtime clash with the Denver Nuggets, thanks to Anthony Morrow's 15-foot pull-up jumper.
Results in full: Chicago Bulls 95-88 Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers 114-110 Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics 118-111 Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets 104-89 Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelics 111-107 Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors 111-104 Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets 118-113 Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks 105-94 Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors 113- 107 Phoenix Suns
Christopher Dodd
