Oklahoma City had reason to celebrate the return of Josh Giddy, who helped his team beat Western Conference leader Minnesota 129-106. Giddy had 10 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 34 and Jalen Williams had 21. Head coach Dai Gonzo praised their “smart offense” against a tough opponent.
Across the league, the Detroit Pistons’ woes continue as they etch their name in the record books for all the wrong reasons. Despite a gutsy 41-point effort from Cade Cunningham, they lost their 27th straight game to the Brooklyn Nets, 118-112. The loss broke a tie with the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers for the most consecutive losses in a single season, with the Philadelphia 76ers holding the overall record with 28 losses in two seasons.
Dyson Daniels’ New Orleans Pelicans fell to the Memphis Grizzlies 116-115 in overtime. jaMarrant continued his hot streak with 31 points as the Memphis Grizzlies extended their winning streak to 4-0 in his return.
Another bright spot for Australia came from Dupree Reyes, who started the season on waivers. He came off the bench to have a career night with 25 points and nine rebounds in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 130-113 win over the Sacramento Kings. His teammate Mathis Tibur also scored six points.
It was an NBA night of triumphs and tribulations for the Australian players, with Giddy and Reyes showcasing their talents and the Pistons’ losing streak falling to an all-time low.
