North-West Division leaders Denver Nuggets saw off Pacific counterparts Los Angeles Lakers 126-113 in the night's big NBA game.

Chauncey Billups won his personal battle against Kobe Bryant with a career-best 39 points to Bryant's 33, and JR Smith added 27 - the 10th time this season he has recorded 20 points or more off the bench.

The win was all the more impressive for being achieved without Carmelo Anthony, the league's leading scorer in terms of points per game.

Minnesota Timberwolves ended a 13-game losing streak and Washington Wizards also produced a major upset as divisional leaders Dallas and Orlando were humbled.

The Stars, top of the South-West Division, benched Dirk Nowitzki after the Germany forward turned up late for the game, but he still top-scored with 21. Six Timberwolves reached double figures in a 117-108 win.

An amazing 39-17 third quarter saw the Wizards win a one-point game against South-East pace-setters the Magic. Caron Butler and Randy Foye combined for 34 of those points on their way to respective totals of 31 and 22.

Boston Celtics heaped more misery on the 4-45 New Jersey Nets, Ray Allen (26) leading the Atlantic Division leaders to a 96-87 home win.

Josh Smith recorded an incredible triple-double - 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists - as Atlanta Hawks beat Chicago Bulls 91-81 after a 27-11 final quarter.

Amar'e Stoudemire scored 30 points as Phoenix Suns beat Sacramento Kings 114-102, while Ersan Ilyasova's career-best 25 helped Milwaukee Bucks to a 114-107 win over New York Knicks.

Elsewhere, Indiana Pacers beat Detroit Pistons 107-83, Houston Rockets saw off Memphis Grizzlies 101-83 and Philadelphia 76ers won 101-94 at New Orleans Hornets.