The leaders of the Eastern and Western NBA conferences sparred off on Sunday night – with the Denver Nuggets prevailing 95-86 against the Toronto Raptors.
Denver put 27 points on the board in the final quarter and restricted the Raptors to just 14 to record their third win in a row.
Nikola Jokic was top scorer for the Nuggets with 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists, while Jamal Murray added 19 and Torrey Craig 13.
Kawhi Leonard claimed 29 points and 14 rebounds for the Raptors who have now lost two on the bounce.
Ben Simmons hit a triple-double – his third of the season – as the Philadelphia 76ers overcame the Cleveland Cavaliers 128-105.
Simmons finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists as the Sixers survived a Cavalier resurgence in the third when they scored 12 without reply to make it 86-85.
John Wall recorded 40 points as the Washington Wizards beat the Los Angeles Lakers 128-110, with LeBron James finishing with 13 points.
The Indiana Pacers won their seventh game in a row as they claimed a 110-99 victory against the New York Knicks, while the Brooklyn Nets extended their purple patch to five with a 144-127 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
De'Aaron Fox finished with 28 points as the Sacramento Kings beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-113 and the Miami Heat overcame the New Orleans Pelicans 102-96.
