Australians in the NBA - Reath roars

Josh Giddey has returned from injury to help Oklahoma City to victory over the west's best, while the Detroit Pistons lost again to set an NBA single-season record for most successive defeats.

Another Australian star also had a memorable evening, with Duop Reath - who started the season waived - stepping up with a career-best performance for Portland in their win over high-flying Sacramento.

Boomer Giddey, who missed Christmas Eve's loss to the LA Lakers with a sprained left ankle, was back in the Thunder's starting lineup and contributed 10 points as they overcame Western Conference leaders Minnesota 129-106.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points and Jalen Williams added 21 as OKC made 18 shots from 3-point range in a decisive victory.

"We really were intelligent with our attacks," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. 

"They're a really hard team to crack, and you've got to be really intentional. Our guys did a great job executing."

In Detroit, the Pistons slumped to their 27th straight loss, Cam Johnson scoring 24 points and Mikal Bridges adding 21 to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 118-112 victory.

Cade Cunningham did his best to stop the rot, scoring 41 points, but could not prevent the Pistons breaking a tie with the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers. 

The 76ers hold the overall mark at 28, a skid that started in the 2014-15 season and carried over into 2015-16.

In New Orleans, Boomer Dyson Daniels scored 11 points but it was not quite enough for his Pelicans who were edged by Memphis in overtime, 116-115.

Ja Morant scored 31 points for the Grizzlies, helping stretch his team's record to 4-0 since he made his season debut a week ago.  

There was more joy for Daniels' Australia teammates Reath and Matisse Thybulle as Portland Trail Blazers beat Sacramento 130-113.

Reath scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds off the bench for the Blazers, while Daniels added six points.

- with AP