Friday, 7 December 2018:

JOE INGLES 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.

Australian duo Joe Ingles and Dante Exum have combined for 33 points, lifting the Utah Jazz to a powerhouse 118-91 NBA win over the Houston Rockets.

Ingles was on fire early for the Jazz and finished with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Exum came off the bench to rack up a season-high 15 points to go with five assists for the Jazz, who did not miss a beat despite the early ejection of Rudy Gobert.

The centre picked up his first foul at the opening tip-off and swiped a paper cup off the scorers' bench in frustration after getting called for his second foul shortly afterwards.

Star guard Donovan Mitchell had a quiet night with just six points but it didn't matter as Ingles, Exum and Derrick Favors (24 points) picked up the scoring slack.

The improving Jazz have won five of their past seven games.

Australian centre Aron Baynes sprained his left ankle early in Boston's 128-100 win over the New York Knicks.

Baynes landed awkwardly after contesting a rebound with 1:51 to go in the first quarter.

He went straight to the locker room and was unable to return to the action.

Kyrie Irving (22 points) and Jaylen Brown (21) led six Boston scorers in double figures, while Tim Hardaway had 22 for the Knicks.

Damian Lillard had 25 points and eight assists before sitting out the final quarter, as the Portland Trail Blazers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 108-86 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Jake Layman came off the bench to score a career-high 24 points for the Blazers.

Troy Daniels had a season-high 15 points for the struggling Suns who are on a seven-game losing streak.

AAP