A bright start helped the Miami Heat to an easy win over the Milwaukee Bucks, allowing them to hold on to top spot in the Eastern Conference.

LeBron James led the two-time defending champions with 17 points as the Heat never fell behind during the game.

The San Antonio Spurs extended their unbeaten run to 19 games as they cruised past the Golden State Warriors.

The Spurs never looked like falling behind as they eased to a 13-point lead by the end of the first quarter, while Tim Duncan and Tony Parker finished the game with 33 points between them.

The Indiana Pacers ended their three-game losing streak with a win over the Detroit Pistons.

Josh Smith kept the visitors in contention early on, adding 15 of his 24 points in the first quarter, but Paul George and David West combined for 42 to make sure of a Pacers win.

The New York Knicks earned the bragging rights over their locals rivals, the Brooklyn Nets, thrashing their opponents at Madison Square Garden.

Carmelo Anthony and JR Smith led the side, who are still pushing for the final playoff place in the Eastern Conference, to secure a win over the Nets, who are already assured of a post-season spot.

The Washington Wizards confirmed their place in the playoffs with a comfortable win over the Boston Celtics.

John Wall helped the side to their biggest winning margin of the season, confirming their first appearance in the playoffs since 2008.

The Charlotte Bobcats were too strong for the Philadelphia 76ers, beating the home side by 30 points.

The Bobcats surged ahead early on, opening up a 12-point lead by the end of the first quarter as Al Jefferson finished the game with 25 points.

The Los Angeles Clippers ensured that they will finish top in the Pacific Division with a win over the Phoenix Suns.

Darren Collison and Blake Griffin each scored 23 as the Clippers wrapped up their fourth win in a row, while Phoenix slipped outside the playoff places.

The Toronto Raptors survived a strong finish from the Houston Rockets to claim a narrow win over the visitors at the Air Canada Centre.

DeMar DeRozan led the Canadian side, who are already through to the playoffs, before Jeremy Lin tried to inspire a comeback for Houston, but Isaiah Canaan missed a last-second chance.

The Atlanta Hawks slipped out of final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a loss to the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls, who are looking to secure home-court advantage, surged ahead before half time, before DJ Augustin ensured that the visitors finished strongly to hold off an Atlanta fightback.

The Cleveland Cavaliers cruised to a comfortable win over the Orlando Magic to keep their chances of a playoff berth alive.

The visitors had four players add 20 points or more, including Dion Waiters with 26, leaving them just two wins behind the New York Knicks, who sit eighth in the Eastern Conference.

Kevin Love helped the Minnesota Timberwolves to victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The forward added 24 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists to guide the Timberwolves to end a run of two defeats for the home side.

The Sacramento Kings made it back-to-back wins as they edged past the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rudy Gay finished strongly, scoring nine of his 31 in the fourth quarter to make sure of the win, while rookie Ray McCullum added a career-high 27 points.

Kenneth Faried scored a career-best 34 as the Denver Nuggets crushed the New Orleans Pelicans, ending a run of four consecutive defeats.

The Nuggets surged to a 40-26 lead in the first quarter, while the Pelicans' hopes of a comeback were hampered when Anthony Davis was forced to leave the game with back spasms.

Results in full: Detroit Pistons 94-101 Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets 81-110 New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers 119-98 Orlando Magic, Charlotte Bobcats 123-93 Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets 103-107 Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics 92-118 Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls 105-92 Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks 77-96 Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies 88-102 Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors 90-111 San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans 107-137 Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers 112-108 Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers 102-107 Sacramento Kings