Australian rookie Josh Green has channelled Dallas great Dirk Nowitzki as he collected his best NBA haul to help the Mavericks past Indiana.

The Sydney-raised No.18 draft pick started at power forward against the Pacers and finished with eight points, three assists and six rebounds in the 124-112 win on Wednesday.

Drafted for his defensive prowess, the 20-year-old Green turned heads with a fade-away shot off one foot that drew comparisons to retired Mavericks great Nowitzki's trademark move.

It showed Green, who could line up at the Olympics for the Boomers later this year, is acclimatising at both ends after some impressive defensive performances already this season.

In Philadelphia, Ben Simmons produced some clutch defensive plays late in the 76ers' comeback 117-109 defeat of Boston.

Two-time All Star Simmons collected 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as Philadelphia improved to 10-5 to lead the eastern conference standings.

Aron Baynes looked more at home for his new outfit Toronto with three points to go with seven rebounds and three assists, although the Raptors fell 111-102 to end a three-game winning streak.

The long-time Boomers centre scored an Australian NBA-game record 37 points last year thanks to nine successful three-pointers as part of a brilliant 2019-20 campaign for Phoenix.

He also shot at better than 50 per cent from behind the arc in a starring role for Australia at China's 2019 World Cup.

But the 34-year-old has struggled offensively since a trade to the Raptors, unable to score in seven of 10 games played.

It saw Baynes briefly fall out of coach Nick Nurse's rotation altogether but the coach is now persisting with the team's tough big-man after watching him dominate in China and develop his three-point shot over the past three years in the NBA.

In Cleveland, the Brooklyn Nets got all three of their superstars - Kyrie Irving, Ken Durant and newest recruit James Harden - together in a game for the first time but lost 147-135 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in double overtime.

Returning from his personal issues "pause", Irving scored 37 points while Durant led with 38 and Harden added 21. But Collin Sexton produced 15 points in the second overtime to set up the home team's upset win.

In Houston, Deandre Ayton had season highs with 26 points and 17 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns beat the Rockets 109-103 to end a two-game skid.

In Los Angeles, Kawhi Leonard had 32 points, six steals and five assists as the Clippers recorded their fifth consecutive victory, a 115-96 decision against the visiting Sacramento Kings.

In other matches, the Orlando Magic shaded the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-96, the Miami Heat beat the Toronto Raptors 111-102, the Atlanta Hawks overcame the Detriot Pistons 123-115 and Golden State Warriors beat the San Antonio Spurs 121-99.