Boston Celtics held off a last-quarter rally by Washington Wizards to extend their dominant lead in the NBA's Atlantic Division with a ninth straight win.

The visitors led 83-74 after the third stanza, but Washington came back to tie the game at 98-98.

But Boston top-scorer Rajon Rondo's dunk a minute from time gave them a lead they never relinquished, holding on to win 104-102 despite Gilbert Arenas' 25-point haul.

Carmelo Anthony scored 40 points in a losing cause as North-West Division leaders Denver Nuggets were edged out 101-99 by Detroit Pistons.

Chauncey Billups added 21 but Charlie Villanueva (27) and Rodney Stuckey (25) saw Detroit, third in the central division, to victory as Billups missed with a last-second lay-up shot.

Guard Deron Williams scored 32 points as Utah Jazz shrugged off having four players inactive to beat Orlando Magic 120-111.

Orlando, for whom Vince Carter scored 34, led 35-22 after the first quarter but the Jazz roared back to take a 90-81 lead after the third, and preserved their nine-point advantage through a high-scoring final period.