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.
Anfernee Simons scored a game-high 29 as the Blazers made light of missing starting centre Deandre Ayton (right knee tendinitis) and shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe (right adductor strain).
In Washington, Franz Wagner had 28 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while rookie Anthony Black scored a career-high 23 points as Orlando defeated the Wizards 127-119.
Jordan Poole had 30 points to lead the Wizards, who have lost four of their last five and sit second from bottom in the east.
Tyrese Haliburton racked up 33 points and 10 assists, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer with a minute left, as Indiana beat Houston 123-117 to snap a three-game losing streak.
The Chicago Bulls beat Atlanta 118-113, the LA Clippers overcame Charlotte 113-104 and Lauri Markkanen had 31 points and 12 rebounds as Utah beat San Antonio 130-118.
- with AP
