LeBron James scored 29 points, including 16 in the first quarter, as the Cleveland Cavaliers broke a four game losing streak with a 106-74 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday.
After bluntly assessing his own performance at Monday's practice, saying, "I stink," James took control early and sparked his team to a much-needed win.
After averaging 18.5 points and shooting 41 per cent from the field in the losing streak, James was 9-for-17 from the field on Monday and tied a season-high with 11 assists while not playing the fourth quarter.
James hit four shots from the field, including a 3-pointer, made all seven of his free throws and had four assists in the opening period. He finished the first half with 22 points, including a fadeaway jumper from the top of the key to end the second quarter.
Anderson Varejao scored 14 points while Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving each added 12.
Australian Joe Ingles scored 11 points for the Utah Jazz in a 97-95 loss against the Chicago Bulls, while Dante Exum failed to score.
Jimmy Butler scored 25 points and Pau Gasol added 23 points and nine rebounds to lead the Bulls to the two-point win.
Blake Griffin had 22 points and a season-high 16 rebounds for Los Angeles, and Chris Paul had 22 points and a season-high 15 assists as the Clippers downed Charlotte 113-92 for the Hornets' sixth straight loss.
Griffin was 10-of-23 from the field and finished one assist shy of a triple-double.
Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge had 15 of his 33 points during a pivotal third quarter to help the Trail Blazers defeat Philadelphia 114-104, sending the 76ers to their 14th straight loss to open the season.
Wesley Matthews added 17 points, Damian Lillard had 16 and Robin Lopez chipped in 12 for Portland (11-3), which won their eighth in a row.
Michael Carter-Williams led Philadelphia (0-14) with 24 points.
The 76ers moved within one loss of matching the club record for consecutive losses to begin a season and will look to avoid an 0-15 opening when they host Brooklyn on Wednesday.
The Toronto Raptors beat the Phoenix Suns 104-100 for their fifth straight win after Jonas Valanciunas had a career-high 27 points and 11 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan scored 23
Houston's James Harden scored 36 points to lead the depleted Rockets to a 91-86 victory over slumping New York Knicks, while Donald Sloan scored 29 points and seven Indiana players scored in double figures in the Pacers' 111-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
