MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Rudy Gay scored 21 points, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Los Angeles Lakers 106-98 Friday night to take back the NBA’s best record for themselves once again.

The Grizzlies improved to 9-2 by taking the lead over the Lakers in the first quarter and never letting go. Zach Randolph had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Marc Gasol added 14 points and eight assists. Mike Conley scored 19 and Tony Allen finished with 12.

The Lakers, playing their third road game in four nights, now have lost all four road games this season and their second straight with new coach Mike D’Antoni on the bench. Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. Metta World Peace and Antawn Jamison each had 16.

ROCKETS 131, KNICKS 103: James Harden scored 33 points, and Chandler Parsons had a career-high 31 to help host Houston coast.

Jeremy Lin added 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Houston in the first game against his former team.

Carmelo Anthony scored a season-high 37 for New York, which dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.

PISTONS 91, RAPTORS 90: Brandon Knight converted a layup with 7.8 seconds left to put Detroit in front for good.

Greg Monroe had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, who won their second straight at home. Knight and Tayshaun Prince each had 16 points. Andrea Bargnani scored a season-best 34 points and Kyle Lowry added 19 for the Raptors, who have dropped three in a row.

NETS 86, CLIPPERS 76: Brook Lopez had 26 points, including consecutive baskets during the game’s decisive stretch, and Brooklyn outscored Los Angeles 23-13 during a final period in which Chris Paul had no points, two assists and six fouls.

Deron Williams didn’t have a great game either, but he improved to 14-4 in the longtime rivalry between two of the NBA’s top point guards.

Joe Johnson added 19 points for the Nets, who limited the Clippers to 29 points in the second half and got back on track after losing the final two games of a six-game road trip.

MAGIC 108, CAVALIERS 104: Jameer Nelson had 22 points, Arron Afflalo scored 19 and Orlando rallied to beat Cleveland.

Glen Davis had 10 of his 16 points in Orlando’s big fourth quarter. Nelson finished with six assists for the Magic, who have won two straight and continue their five-game homestand Sunday against Boston.

Dion Waiters scored 25 points for Cleveland, and Anderson Varejao had 19. The Cavaliers have lost seven of eight and face Miami on Saturday.

Orlando had 16 turnovers in the first half, but just two after the break. The Magic connected on 11 of 21 3-pointers.

HAWKS 101, BOBCATS 91: Atlanta shot better than 50 percent most of the night to knock off Charlotte.

Center Al Horford led the Hawks with 26 points. The Bobcats got 22 from point guard Ramon Sessions, as Charlotte fell to 6-5.

Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist played much of the fourth quarter with five fouls, limiting his ability to guard various Hawks. Kidd-Gilchrist was essential to containing Atlanta forward Josh Smith.

SPURS 104, PACERS 97: Tony Parker scored 33 points and San Antonio erased a 17-point deficit on the way to a victory over Indiana.

Tim Duncan had 22 points for San Antonio, which closed the game with a 17-2 run. Manu Ginobili scored 19.

David West scored 22 for the Pacers (6-8), and Paul George finished with 15. George Hill collected 11 points and Roy Hibbert added 10.