Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas confirmed their All-Star credentials by powering the host Washington Wizards to a 95-87 win over the NBA-leading San Antonio Spurs Wednesday.
Named a day earlier for their first All-Star Game, Jamison grabbed a season-high 35 points and added 11 rebounds while Arenas had 24 points as the Wizards stretched their unbeaten run to three games.
The Spurs were without Tim Duncan for the second successive game, the double NBA MVP continuing to nurse a sprained ankle.
San Antonio's Tony Parker picked up 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as his team slumped to its first loss in six outings.
The Spurs remain top of the overall standings but now share first place with the Phoenix Suns, the two having identical 39-11 records.
In East Rutherford, Lamar Odom had 16 points, including four in overtime, and equalled a career-high 19 rebounds to spark the Los Angeles Lakers to a 104-103 victory over the New Jersey Nets which snapped a three-game losing skid.
Jumaine Jones contributed 20 points for the Lakers, who were again without Kobe Bryant due to a badly sprained right ankle.
New Jersey's Jason Kidd notched a triple-double for the second consecutive night, with 28 points, 12 assists and 12 boards.
In New York, Dwyane Wade collected 30 points, Damon Jones had a season-high 24 and Shaquille O'Neal chipped in with 16 points and 13 rebounds to carry the Miami Heat to a 116-110 overtime win over the Knicks.
Stephon Marbury had a game-high 36 points for the Knicks, who have lost 13 of their last 15 contests.
In Philadelphia, Dahntay Jones seized a career-high 23 points as the streaking Memphis Grizzlies squeezed past the 76ers 98-95 to post their fifth victory in six games.
Allen Iverson, the NBA's leading scorer, had 38 points and 10 assists for the 76ers.
In Boston, Paul Pierce recorded 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Celtics rallied in the fourth quarter to edge the Los Angeles Clippers 94-89.
Elton Brand had a game-high 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who have lost three straight on the road.
In Houston, Tracy McGrady registered 24 points and Yao Ming contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Rockets beat the Chicago Bulls 105-92 to collect a season-high fifth win in a row.
In Minneapolis, NBA MVP Kevin Garnett poured in 24 points and snared 11 rebounds while Wally Szczerbiak had 19 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves brushed aside the Denver Nuggets 98-92 to end a season-high six-game losing streak.
In Portland, JR Smith had 19 points and Dan Dickau 17 to help the last-place New Orleans Hornets upset the Trail Blazers 91-80.
In Toronto, Michael Redd scored 29 points and Desmond Mason 18 as the Milwaukee Bucks rallied to defeat the Raptors 110-107.
Jalen Rose had 26 points for the Raptors. Rafer Alston returned to the Toronto line-up, following an argument with coach Sam Mitchell in Cleveland a night earlier, to claim 16 points and 12 rebounds.
In Indianapolis, Jermaine O'Neal scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Stephen Jackson added 22 points as the Indiana Pacers flattened the expansion Charlotte Bobcats 94-87.
More from rediff