Howard has the Magic touch

The Orlando Magic won a third successive game as Dwight Howard played a key role in their 102-87 victory over the Houston Rockets.

Howard pulled down 20 rebounds and scored 13 points as the Magic shared the points around, five players reaching double figures.

The Cleveland Cavaliers needed overtime to overcome the Sacramento Kings, pulling well clear and keeping their opponents scoreless in the extra period to win 117-104.

The Kings had hauled themselves level in the final quarter but had nothing left, and Cleveland were unforgiving. LeBron James gave the outstanding performance with 34 points and 16 rebounds.

Individual performance of the night came from JR Smith of the Denver Nuggets in a 124-104 win against the Atlanta Hawks.

Smith scored 41 points - including 10 three-pointers - as the Nuggets snapped a five-game losing streak.

The Detroit Pistons slumped to a sixth successive defeat, dismally losing 94-64 to the Toronto Raptors, who were led by 21 points from Andrea Bargnani.

Kevin Durant's 38-point performance helped the Oklahoma City Thunder eke out a 117-113 victory against the Phoenix Suns, for whom Amare Stoudemire scored 35 points.

The Golden State Warriors will head into Christmas on the back of a seven-match losing streak after a 108-102 loss away to the New Orleans Hornets, despite 35 points from Monta Ellis.

Jerryd Bayless scored 31 points in the Portland Trail Blazers' 98-94 win against the San Antonio Spurs, while Al Jefferson had a game-high 27 points for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their 103-99 victory over fellow stragglers the New Jersey Nets.

Dwyane Wade's 29 points helped the Miami Heat post an 80-70 win against the Utah Jazz, and Antawn Johnson's 25-point game allowed the Washington Wizards to down the Milwaukee Bucks 109-97.