Denver took the lead for good early in the third quarter and was up by as many as 14 midway through the fourth.
LeBron James, who missed the morning shootaround because of a cold, led Cleveland with 22 points.
Grizzlies 119,
Rockets 93
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Mike Conley scored 19 points and Memphis easily defeated Houston in a matchup of the teams with the NBA’s two best records.
Whatever showdown was expected from two 9-1 teams and among the best defensive squads in the league never materialized as the Grizzlies took a 16-point lead in the first quarter and extended it in each of the remaining periods, until it reached 36 points in the fourth frame.
Bulls 105, Clippers 89
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jimmy Butler led six players in double figures with 22 points, and Chicago beat Los Angeles to improve to 6-0 on the road for the first time since 1996-97.
Taj Gibson had 20 points starting in place of injured Pau Gasol. Mike Dunleavy Jr. added 19 points and Joakim Noah had 11 points and 16 rebounds. The Bulls remained the NBA’s only undefeated road team while opening a season-long, seven-game trip without injured star Derrick Rose.
T-Blazers 102,
Pelicans 93
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 24 points, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:14 left, and Portland rallied past New Orleans.
Spurs 100, 76ers 75
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Matt Bonner had 18 points and San Antonio’s Big Three got some rest as the Spurs handed Philadelphia its 10th straight loss to open the season.
Tim Duncan had 16 points and nine rebounds, and Kawhi Leonard had five points and 11 rebounds in limited action. Cory Joseph added 14 points for the defending NBA champions, who never trailed.
Mavericks 107,
Hornets 80
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Monta Ellis scored 18 points, Chandler Parsons had 17 and Dallas defeated Charlotte for its fourth straight victory.
Dirk Nowitzki had 13 points to become the fourth player in NBA history to eclipse 27,000 with one franchise, joining a prestigious group that includes current Hornets owner Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant.
Heat 95, Nets 83
NEW YORK (AP) — Mario Chalmers scored 22 points, Chris Bosh ended his shooting slump and added 15 points and nine rebounds, and Miami snapped a threegame losing streak by beating Brooklyn.
With Dwyane Wade out for a third straight game due to a strained left hamstring, Chalmers remained in the starting lineup for the second consecutive night and keyed the finishing spurt for the Heat.
He converted a three-point play, added another free throw and then set up Bosh for a 3-pointer that turned a four-point lead into a 91-80 advantage with 1:23 left.
Magic 107, Pistons 93
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Tobias Harris scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as Orlando pulled away late to beat Detroit.
Nikola Vucevic finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds for the Magic, who had all five starters in double figures.
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