The Boston Celtics returned to winning ways after their defeat to the Phoenix Suns by beating the New Jersey Nets 86-76.

After winning six straight in the NBA, the Phoenix setback showed the Celtics can be beaten, but another setback against the Nets was always improbable.

New Jersey remain winless after Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo led scoring for Boston with 16 points, while Brook Lopez finished with 23 points for the Nets.

The Nets' neighbours from across the Hudson River, the New York Knicks, are also experiencing a poor start to the season and their record worsened to 1-6 after a 102-87 defeat on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks, for whom Andrew Bogut led scoring with 22 points.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Toronto Raptors emphatically, 129-101, while the Chicago Bulls finished well to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 93-90, with 27 points from John Salmons.

A 32-point haul from Tyreke Evans carried the Sacramento Kings to a 104-99 win over the Utah Jazz, while Jamal Crawford and Josh Smith both made useful points contributions in the Atlanta Hawks' 125-100 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Frustrated with his fringe role, veteran guard Allen Iverson left the Memphis Grizzlies before their match against the Los Angeles Clippers, after being allowed to take leave from the team.

The Grizzlies had 33 points from Rudy Gay but lost 113-110 to the Clippers - a sixth defeat in seven matches for the franchise this season.