Kevin Durant dropped in 11 of his 46 points in a late fourth-quarter run as Oklahoma City Thunder stormed past the Portland Trail Blazers 105-97 and secured a fourth straight NBA victory.
It was the fifth time the league top scorer has eclipsed the 40-points mark this season and the fourth time in 10 games, including a career-high 54 last Friday night.
Reggie Jackson scored 15 while Serge Ibaka added 10 with five blocks for the Thunder who moved to 32-10, a game ahead of Portland at the top the Northwest Division.
LeBron James scored 29 points, including seven free throws to spark a decisive 9-0 run in the final three minutes to carrying the two-time defending champions Miami Heat to a 93-86 home victory over the struggling Boston Celtics.
Brandon Bass scored 15 points, Kris Humphries had 14 with 13 rebounds for Boston who have now lost 15 of its last 17 matches.
Andray Blatche scored 18 points while fellow reserve Mirza Teletovic had 14 as the surging Brooklyn Nets won for the eighth time in the last nine games with 101-90 triumph over the visiting Orlando Magic.
Kyle O'Quinn netted 15 points for the Magic who have won just one of their last 11 games.
Rudy Gay poured in a career high-tying 41 points, and the visiting Sacramento Kings sent the New Orleans Pelicans to their ninth loss in 10 games with a 114-97 win.
Kevin Love chalked up 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, while Spanish-native Ricky Rubio added 11 points, 13 assists and five steals, as Minnesota snapped a seven-game slide at Utah with a 112-97 win over the Jazz.
Gordon Hayward netted 27 points after missing five games with a hip injury as Utah was swept in the home-and-home series.
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