Kobe Bryant edged within nine points of Michael Jordan on the all-time NBA scorers list, but it was the form of Chicago Bulls guard and former league MVP Derrick Rose that set tongues wagging in Chicago.
Much maligned for missing several games early in the season, Rose has finally enjoyed some consistent game-time since he returned from his latest injury and he's now started to show some form.
Rose was unstoppable for the Bulls, who beat the visiting Portland Trailblazers (fourth in the West) 115-106.
Rose put up 31 points and nailed some truly memorable fadeaway jumpers throughout.
The point guard also showed he has plenty of confidence in his surgically repaired knees, twisting and turning on several scything drives to the basket.
Rose was ably helped by Aaron Brooks, who had 17 points off the bench on eight of 10 shooting.
"Derrick played a great game," Brooks said.
"I think we all played well and got it done against a great team.
"Whenever you get a win, I don't care how it's done ... the crowd was entertained but it would have been good to keep them under 100."
The win took Chicago above Cleveland and into fourth position in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland, who had LeBron James back from a knee injury, got a 41-point game from their star, but it made no difference as New Orleans took out a 119-114 win on the back of 31 points from Tyreke Evans and 30 from Ryan Anderson, who played 40 minutes off the bench.
In Washington, the Wizards snapped the win streak of the LA Clippers, which means the Atlanta Hawks now hold the second-longest current win streak in the NBA.
Their 87-81 win over the Orlando Magic was their ninth in a row, but still a few games shy of Golden State's current roll of 14.
Still on streaks, the Detroit Pistons snapped theirs with a 105-103 win in Phoenix.
A late pair of Andre Drummond free-throws stopped their 13-game slide and helped condemn the Suns to a fourth straight loss.
In San Antonio, Bryant needed 31 points to pass Michael Jordan on the all-time scorers list, he only got 22.
After he gave his teammates a spray after a string of poor performances, the Lakers legend seemed happy to get the 112-110 win over some of his longtime rivals in Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.
A late three-pointer from Nick Young, the beau of Aussie hip-hop artist Iggy Azalea, helped the Lakers to an upset win in overtime.
Toronto beat Indiana to stay top in the East, New York beat Boston, Brooklyn defeated Philadelphia, Memphis took double-overtime to beat Charlotte, Miami knocked off Utah and Oklahoma City continued their resurgence by destroying the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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