Charlie Villanueva had 26 points and 13 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks defended resolutely to beat the Toronto Raptors 96-85.

Milwaukee trailed 30-24 after the opening period but forged ahead by a pair at halftime. In a decisive third quarter, the Bucks turned up the defensive pressure and held the Raptors to just 12 points on 25 percent (5-of-20) from the field. The Bucks were in front 70-59 after three and built an 18-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.

After missing eight games with a back injury, Andrew Bogut was strong in his return for Milwaukee. The Australian had 13 points and eight rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench.

LeBron James scored 25 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskus added 20 in his return from a fractured left ankle to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 112-95 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Los Angeles stayed close well into the fourth quarter before the Cavs finally created some distance. Mo Williams kicked off a 13-2 run with a 3-pointer and capped it off the same way to push the lead to 102-85.

All-Star Kobe Bryant scored 30 points and Andrew Bynum added 27 to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 132-119 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Pau Gasol scored 21 points for the Lakers, who scored at least 31 in each quarter and had six players score in double figures.

Kevin Garnett collected 22 points and eight rebounds and the Boston Celtics clamped down on defense while pushing their latest winning streak to 10 games with an 86-78 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Paul Pierce added 20 points and Ray Allen chipped in 14 for the Celtics, who held the Pistons to 40 percent shooting (30-of-74), including 1-of-8 from 3-point range.

Luol Deng and Ben Gordon led a balanced attack with 20 points apiece as the Chicago Bulls won here for the first time since November 1997, romping over the Sacramento Kings 109-88.

The loss dropped the Kings to 0-21 this season against the Eastern Conference, and it was their 22nd straight setback dating to last season against Eastern foes.

Corey Maggette scored 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Golden State Warriors edged the New Orleans Hornets 91-87.

Jamal Crawford provided the dagger with a jumper with 15 seconds remaining to push the lead to 87-82 in favour of the Warriors, who held the Hornets to 36 percent (28-of-78) shooting in the contest.

Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points in his first game back after a 10-game absence to help the Denver Nuggets defeat the Charlotte Bobcats 110-99.

Mike Dunleavy scored 30 points and Danny Granger and Troy Murphy added 19 apiece as the Indiana Pacers ended the Miami Heat's three-game winning streak with a 114-103 triumph. Dwyane Wade carried Miami with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting and Mark Blount added 17 off the bench, but it was hardly enough.

Having been whipped by 21 points on January 14, the Utah Jazz defeated the Oklahoma Thunder 110-90 behind Deron Williams' double-double.

All-Star Joe Johnson scored 29 points as the Atlanta Hawks snapped their three-game losing streak with a 105-88 victory over the sliding New Jersey Nets. Andre Iguodala and Willie Green both scored 20 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 104-94 victory over the Washington Wizards.


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