Ingles keen to joust with NBA Thunder star

Tuesday, 17 April 2018:

JOE INGLES #2 of the Utah Jazz controls the ball against the Golden State Warriors in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.
JOE INGLES #2 of the Utah Jazz controls the ball against the Golden State Warriors in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.


Joe Ingles has laughed off the heated he had with Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Paul George in game one of their NBA playoff series.

The Utah Jazz's Australian starting small forward is keen for more verbal and physical jousting with George in Wednesday's game two.

"It's great," Ingles told reporters on Monday.

"I love it.

"I hope we do it again."

Ingles and his Jazz teammates remain in high spirits despite the Thunder outplaying them for a 116-108 victory in the opener of their best-of seven series.

Ingles is one of the NBA's best three-point shooters, ball distributors, trash-talkers and needlers.

George, one of the NBA's best defenders, was assigned to shut down Ingles and the close, physical defensive effort led to plenty of heated words between them.

After the game George had a dig at Ingles, nicknamed Slow-Mo Joe, telling reporters he took advantage of Ingles' lack of foot speed.

"It's very unlikely he will beat me off the dribble so I'll take my chances with foot speed," George said.

Ingles said there had been no bad blood between the two before the game.

"I have no history with him," Ingles said.

"I've never spoken with him in my life."

It was George who won the individual battle, which was a key factor in the Thunder's win.

George also top scored with 36 points, including hitting eight of 11 three-pointers.

Ingles had just one assist, well below the five he averaged in the regular season.

Ingles also had just five shots from behind the arc, sinking three.

He plans to be more aggressive in Wednesday's game in Oklahoma City, but he will not get greedy and shoot just for the sake of it.

The Jazz has an offence based on player and ball movement and that is what leads to open shots.

"I'll take all of the shots I get within the flow of our offence if that is 25 or two," Ingles said.

"Obviously I will be aggressive when my time comes and when I get the ball in positions, but I won't go out of our offence to get more shots."

Jazz coach Quin Snyder backed Ingles and said it would take a team effort to beat the Thunder.

"There's no one-on-one match up for us that is going to make or break the game," the coach said.

"We have to move the ball to find ways to attack and when there is a guy (like George) who is making that hard it impacts everybody.

"We have to be more precise and there's another level our guys need to play at."






AAP