Ben Simmons has sent a reminder of his exceptional skill in a game-changing performance to help Brooklyn win 107-105 in New Orleans.
The much-maligned Australian again came off the bench for the Nets and had an instant impact, registering an incredible 10 assists in his first 12 minutes of court time.
His 10 first-half assists tied the Nets' club record, Simmons finishing with 12 to go with six points on three-of-five shooting and six rebounds in 22 minutes.
Cam Thomas scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, including a three-pointer for the lead in the final minute as the Pelicans lost a fifth-straight game.
The Nets (5-6) win followed tight losses to eastern conference leaders Cleveland and Boston to leave them fifth.
In Chicago, Josh Giddey did his best to stop the Cavaliers' unbeaten start to the season, racking up 10 points, five rebounds and two assists in the first quarter alone.
The Australian guard (18 points, nine rebounds, seven assists) shot at 63 per cent from the field and fell narrowly short of his 12th NBA triple-double.
Zach LaVine (26 points) made countless tough shots but the Bulls (4-7) were unable to put the nail in the coffin, Donovan Mitchell (36 points) leading another well-rounded Cavs effort as they improved to 12-0.
Meanwhile, Houston centre and Boomers star Jock Landale will have scans after suffering a shoulder strain on Sunday that ruled him out of the Rockets' 107-92 defeat of Washington.
Landale had been impactful when given the opportunity behind New Zealand's Steven Adams and starting centre Alperen Sengun, who scored 27 points for a second straight game and added 17 rebounds against the Wizards.
In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 45 points and the Thunder beat Los Angeles 134-128 in their first game this season without Chet Holmgren.
Centre Holmgren will miss at least eight weeks with a pelvic fracture after a hard fall during Sunday's loss to Golden State.
And in San Antonio, Victor Wembanyama amassed 34 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Spurs to a 116-96 win over Sacramento.
With AP
