Australia's Nathan Jawai registered the highest score of his fledgling NBA career when he scored a team high 16 points on 7-from-11 shooting for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 116-93 loss to the Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden in Portland.
Jawai also registered new career highs in field goals made, field goals attempted, free throws attempted, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, total rebounds and minutes played while equaling his career high in free throws made.
Recently traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Minnesota Timberwolves, it was hoped Jawai would get more playing opportunities on a team depleted by injury, yet over the course of the first six games of the season he had only registered 12 minutes on court.
The loss was the sixth in a row for Minnesota after it won the opening game of its season against New Jersey on October 29.
Portland (4-3) is within one game of first placed Denver in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, The Los Angeles Lakers made it five wins in a row with a 104-88 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.
The NBA champions were led in scoring by Kobe Bryant who finished with 28 points, and the Lakers now have a three-day break before taking on the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.
That promises to be a more searching test of form, given the Suns improved their record this season to 6-1 with a 102-90 win over the Washington Wizards in the capital. Jason Richardson scored 22 points for Phoenix.
The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Orlando Magic, with Kevin Durant scoring 28 points in a 102-74 victory, while the Portland Trail Blazers had it all their way against the Minnesota Timberwolves, coming out on top 116-93. Andre Miller scored 21 points.
Ben Gordon's 23 points helped the Detroit Pistons to an 88-81 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, and Tyreke Evans also contributed 23 points as the Sacramento Kings proved too strong for the Golden State Warriors, winning 120-107.