The Los Angeles Lakers have won their first back-to-back games in almost a month after topping the Philadelphia 76ers 111-98.
Kobe Bryant scored 34 points and Metta World Peace added 19 with 16 rebounds for the Lakers, who last enjoyed a winning streak of any kind with three victories between November 16 and 20.
But even with the win they remain three games below .500.
But if the Lakers feel they have had to wait a long time for consecutive wins, try the Toronto Raptors who achieved the feat for the first time in eight months by beating the Houston Rockets 103-96.
Jose Calderon led the way with 18 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds.
JaVale McGee came off the bench to score 19 points as the Denver Nuggets enjoyed a comfortable 122-97 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Damian Lillard's buzzer-beating three-pointer lifted the Portland Trail Blazers to a 95-94 victory over the reeling New Orleans Hornets.
The Hornets had rallied from 16 down to tie the game at 92-92 inside the final minute but even though Portland lost LaMarcus Aldridge to a late injury, Lillard's dagger inflicted a sixth-straight loss on New Orleans.
