Cavs survive Spurs challenge

Their top two stars may have been in the stands but the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers found a way to beat the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night (US time).

With LeBron James watching on and Shaquille O'Neal not in the building, the Cavaliers held off a Spurs rally to emerge with a 97-95 win.

It is the first time in two years the Cavaliers have won a game that James, who has a sore ankle, has missed.

Mo Williams led the Cavs with 17 points.

The Dallas Mavericks won their 12th straight game, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-112, to take another bite out of the Los Angeles Lakers' lead atop the West Conference, which is now down to two games.

Shawn Marion led the charge with 29 points and 14 rebounds, while Dirk Nowitzki added 24 points and Caron Butler 23.

The New York Knicks topped the Atlanta Hawks by the narrowest of margins as they needed a video replay to confirm that Al Horford's shot had come after the buzzer in a 99-98 victory at Madison Square Garden.

After Josh Smith's drive to the basket was blocked, Horford got the ball and hoisted up a jump-shot which was initially ruled good, but it was chalked off after a replay to give the Knicks a victory which ensures they have, for now at least, staved off a franchise-record ninth straight losing season.

Mike Conley and Rudy Gay scored 21 points each and Marc Gasol added 19 and 13 rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the hapless New Jersey Nets 107-101.

Darren Collison scored 16 points and dished out a career-high 20 assists to help the New Orleans Hornets to a 135-131 victory over the Golden State Warriors, ending a four-game losing streak.