A stunning final quarter saw Los Angeles Lakers beat Utah Jazz 101-77 to extend their lead in the NBA's Pacific Division.

The Lakers led by just two points after the third stanza but won the fourth 28-6 for an ultimately comfortable victory.

Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 27 points and Pau Gasol added a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Houston Rockets inflicted just a seventh defeat of the season - but a second in succession - on Central Division leaders Cleveland Cavaliers.

Aaron Brooks top-scored with 27 points and fellow guard Trevor Ariza added 26 - including a superb reverse jam - as the Rockets bounced back from Saturday's 90-89 defeat to Portland Trail Blazers and closed the gap on South-West Division leaders Dallas Mavericks.

San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Hornets both remained within two wins of Houston after beating Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves respectively.

Richard Jefferson (23) and Manu Ginobili (20) led the Spurs to a comfortable 118-106 win, while Chris Paul's late lay-up coupled with Wayne Ellington's missed three-pointer in the last second saw New Orleans scrape home 97-96.

All of Cleveland's divisional rivals were in action, with Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons enjoying victories.

Brandon Jennings' 22 points led the Bucks to a 117-95 rout of Toronto Raptors while Detroit inflicted an 11th successive defeat on Philadelphia 76ers, winning 90-86 on the back of a 27-point haul from Rodney Stuckey.

The Central Division's bottom two, Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers, suffered defeat by wide margins. Jamal Crawford was Atlanta Hawks' top scorer with 29 points in a 118-83 hammering of Chicago, while Brandon Roy racked up the same total as Portland Trail Blazers saw off the Pacers 102-91.

In the night's other game the depleted Golden State Warriors - still with only eight active players - ended a four-match losing streak with a 105-89 win over fellow strugglers New Jersey Nets.