NBA Friday: Toronto Raptors blitz Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers lose again

The Raptors - the Eastern Conference leaders with 10 wins and two losses - showed no mercy as they crushed the Bucks 124-83 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Toronto scored 30 or more points in the three of the four quarters in a relentless win that fell narrowly short of equalling a franchise record for their largest margin of victory, which was set in 2008 when they blitzed the Miami Heat 96-54.

Louis Williams and Kyle Lowry led the way for the Raptors, who made it three consecutive wins.

Williams had a game-high 22 points in less than 19 minutes on court, while Lowry added 20 points of his own and nine rebounds.

Big man Jonas Valanciunas had 18 points and 12 boards in a double-double display.

"I thought the mental focus was great," coach Dwane Casey said. "Nobody in that locker room was even talking about tomorrow night [Toronto play LeBron James' Cavaliers].

"If we're going to be an elite team or grow to be an elite team in this league, we've got to make sure we care of business and take care of what's in front of us."

Jabari Parker (15 points), Ersan Ilyasova (14 points) and Brandon Knight (11 points) were the only players to make it into double figures for the Bucks, whose three-game winning streak came to an end.

The Cavaliers crashed to a third consecutive loss after the Wizards ran out 91-78 winners in Washington.

Cleveland were second-best throughout the eagerly anticipated clash that pitted LeBron James against rival Paul Pierce.

And it was Pierce who came out on top as the Wizards (8-3) flexed their muscles, with the Cavs (5-6) unable to find a field goal in the final nine minutes.

Wizards star John Wall scored 28 points, while veteran Pierce had nine points.

James was eight of 21 from the field for his 22 points and team-mate Kyrie Irving also posted 22.

In other results, the Orlando Magic rallied from a 23-point deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets 105-100.

The San Antonio Spurs were too strong for the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Tony Parker's 28 points helping the defending champions to a 121-92 triumph.

Dirk Nowitzki (23 points), Chandler Parsons (21 points) and Monta Ellis (20 points, 10 assists) combined for 64 points as the Dallas Mavericks routed the Los Angeles Lakers 140-106.

The Chicago Bulls were beaten 105-87 by the Portland Trail Blazers, while the Memphis Grizzlies downed the Boston Celtics 117-100 on the back of big games from Marc Gasol (32 points) and Zach Randolph (16 points, 16 rebounds).

Jarrett Jack had 23 points as the Brooklyn Nets edged the Oklahoma City Thunder 94-92, the Philadelphia 76ers slumped to a 0-12 record courtesy of a 122-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns and the Atlanta Hawks trumped the Detroit Pistons 99-89.

The Golden State Warriors powered to a 101-88 win over the Utah Jazz, while the Denver Nuggets prevailed 117-97 against the New Orleans Pelicans.