Nikola Jokic scored a career-high 50 points but it was not enough for his Denver Nuggets to defeat the Sacramento Kings.
Harrison Barnes netted 28 points as the Kings closed out an injury-depleted Nuggets 119-114, with Sacramento in form after winning six of their last seven games.
A recovering Damian Lillard netted 29 points as his Portland Trail Blazers fell 110-99 to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, with Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton each scoring 22 points for the hosts.
LeBron James scored 33 points as the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly avenged a defeat in Detroit last month with a 135-129 victory over the Pistons., and the Atlanta Hawks broke a three-game losing streak with a 132-121 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
The Chicago Bulls won their encounter with the Orlando Magic courtesy of Zach Lavine’s 39 points, the San Antonio Spurs claimed southern Texas bragging rights over the Houston Rockets 111-106 and the Milwaukee Bucks blew away the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-99.
The Philadelphia 76ers scored a 124-108 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-118, the Dallas Mavericks edged out the Golden State Warriors 134-132 and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Memphis Grizzlies 118-109 for their third straight victory.
