The misery continues for the New Jersey Nets, who have officially made the worst start to a season in NBA history.

The 117-101 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks was an 18th straight defeat - taking them past the 17 racked up by the Miami Heat in 1988 and the Los Angeles Clippers 11 years later.

The damage was done in the second quarter, when the Mavericks made 17 of 19 shots and opened up a 27-point advantage.

Chris Douglas-Roberts led all Nets scorers with 24 points, while Dirk Nowitzki led the Dallas effort with the same number.

The Atlanta Hawks enjoyed their best offensive night in 16 years to beat the struggling Toronto Raptors 146-115.

The Hawks reached 140 points for the first time since 1993, when they beat Philadelphia 149-123. They had nine players in double figures, with Al Horford leading the way with 24 points.

Kevin Durant scored 33 points and Nick Collison weighed in with 18 in his first game back after injury as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 117-106 result was the 76ers' eighth straight defeat.

Earl Boykins scored 11 of his 13 points in the final 10 minutes, including the winning free throws with a second left, as the Washington Wizards beat the Milwaukee Bucks 104-102.

Boykins certainly finished strongly, playing a part in the Wizards' final eight points - but Gilbert Arenas led the scoring with 22 points.

The Orlando Magic's Rashard Lewis scored 17 of his 20 points in the third quarter of his team's 118-104 victory over the New York Knicks - a result which means the Magic have won nine of their last 10 games.

Wilson Chandler impressed with 24 points for the Knicks, who suffered a sixth defeat in seven matches.

Shaquille O'Neal scored 12 points for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who defeated his former team - the Phoenix Suns - 107-90.

Mike Conley scored a season-high 20 points and Rudy Gay scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half to help the Memphis Grizzlies rally for a 97-95 victory over fellow Western Conference strugglers the Minnesota Timberwolves.

John Salmons scored 22 points and Derrick Rose added 19 as the Chicago Bulls ended a five-game losing streak by beating the Detroit Pistons 92-85.

Detroit's Ben Gordon, who led the Bulls' scoring for four seasons before signing a five-year deal with the Pistons in the off-season, scored 18 points but was booed by the United Center crowd.

Tyreke Evans scored 26 points to help the Sacramento Kings to a fourth successive win, 110-105 over the Indiana Pacers.

Jason Thompson had 22 points for the victors and Spencer Hawes 21 - but Danny Granger made six three-pointers and scored an impressive 33 points for the Pacers.

The Houston Rockets blew the Los Angeles Clippers away in the second half of their match at the Staples Center.

The scores were tied at 52 apiece at the midway point - but the visitors finished strongly and won 102-85.

Aaron Brooks finished with 22 points as the Rockets recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since a three-game stretch which followed the season-opening loss at Portland.