Kawhi Leonard shot 45 points – including 16 of 22 field goals – as the Toronto Raptors saw off the Utah Jazz 122-116.
It was a career-high for Leonard who also went 13 for 17 in free throws, while Pascal Siakam also had a career best with 28 and 10 rebounds for the Raptors.
Undefeated in 2019. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/VeDtuLiUCE
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 2, 2019
The win cements Toronto's position at the top of the Atlantic Division as they sit 0.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks, who saw off the Detroit Pistons.
Brook Lopez top scored for the Bucks with 25, while Giannis Antetokounmpo hit a powerful dunk on Jon Leuer as part of his 15-point haul in the 121-98 win.
Did @Giannis_An34 just throw down the POSTER OF THE YEAR!?!#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/anVvi6nNO6 — Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 2, 2019
Blake Griffin top scored for the Pistons with 29 points and nine rebounds but could not stop the Bucks winning their fourth in a row.
Damian Lillard scored on a lay-up with 15 seconds left to take the match between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Sacramento Kings to overtime, with Portland running out 113-108 winners.
Lillard, who claimed 25 points on the night, drove into the paint to level the match at 103-103 and added five in the extra period.
Damian Lillard's 3 wins it for the @trailblazers! #RipCity pic.twitter.com/0Erm6eLJRg
— NBA (@NBA) December 28, 2018
Nikola Jokic had a triple-double with 19 points, 14 rebounds and 15 assists as the Denver Nuggets won their ninth-straight home game against the New York Knicks 115-108.
Elsewhere, Joel Embiid top scored with 28 points and 19 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 119-113.
