Damian Lillard played a starring role as the Portland Trail Blazers recorded a convincing 130-113 win over the Denver Nuggets.

The former rookie of the year posted 27 points and a season-high nine assists as the Blazers benefited from a strong first half, in which they scored 84 points.

Ty Lawson led the response with 32 points for the Nuggets, but the hosts were unable to avoid a sixth successive defeat.

The Houston Rockets improved their record to 7-1 for the season as Dwight Howard inspired his team to a 113-101 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Howard registered 22 points and 10 rebounds, while James Harden chipped in with 23 points and 10 assists in Mexico City.

The Miami Heat suffered a surprise defeat on their home court as the Indiana Pacers used a strong defensive display to claim an 81-75 victory.

Roy Hibbert recorded 16 points and 15 rebounds as the Pacers earned their third win of the season in South Florida.

Reggie Jackson carried the majority of the workload as the Oklahoma City Thunder recorded a 109-94 success over the Boston Celtics.

The point guard finished with 28 points for the Thunder, who ended a run of five successive losses on the road.

The Washington Wizards recovered from an early 10-point deficit to beat the Detroit Pistons 107-103.

Brandon Jennings scored 32 points for the Pistons, but it was John Wall's 27 points and 11 assists which were key as the Wizards continued their fine form in the capital.

The Atlanta Hawks held off the Utah Jazz in impressive style to claim a 100-97 victory at Philips Arena.

Utah led by six heading into the fourth quarter, but the Hawks restricted the visitors to just nine points in the final period to secure the win.

The New York Knicks suffered a sixth successive defeat in a 97-95 loss to Evan Fournier and the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden.

Fournier scored a career-high 28 points for the Magic, while Nikola Vucevic added 20 points and 13 rebounds to pile the misery on the Knicks.

Anthony Davis continued his impressive form with another double-double as the New Orleans Pelicans eased to a 109-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kobe Bryant managed to register 33 points for the Lakers, but it was the 25 points and 12 rebounds from Davis which made the difference as the Pelicans claimed their fourth win of the season.

The Phoenix Suns fought back from 19 points behind to beat the Brooklyn Nets 112-104 on a dramatic night at the US Airways Center.

Gerald Green's season-high 28 points and 21 more vital points off the bench from Isaiah Thomas carried the Suns home as the Nets started a three-game road trip with a loss.

Results in full: Detroit Pistons 103-107 Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz 97-100 Atlanta Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder 109-94 Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers 81-75 Miami Heat, Orlando Magic 97-95 New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers 102-109 New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers 130-113 Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets 104-112 Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets 113-101 Minnesota Timberwolves