Australian swingman Joe Ingles isn't exactly renowned for being a spot-up shooter but he made a splash for the Utah Jazz in their 94-85 NBA victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ingles, who'd recently been starting at forward in place of injured star Gordon Hayward and scored his season-high 15 points just three days ago.
He was at it again on Sunday.
Relegated to the bench, with Hayward back from plantar fasciitis, Ingles set the court alight in the final term, hitting four of four from three-point territory in a five-minute stretch of sharpshooting.
They were the only shots Ingles unleashed on a night where the Aussie had a hot hand.
The win takes the Jazz to a 34-36 season record as they chase a Western Conference playoff spot with just 12 games left in their regular season.
They are currently in ninth place, just out of the playoffs and are locked in battle with the Portland Trailblazers (36-35), Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks (35-35).
While Ingles had 12 the Jazz were led by Hayward who had 18 points and centre Rudy Gobert chimed in with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Utah coach Quin Snyder appreciated what Ingles was bringing to the team.
"I thought Joe did a good job of throwing himself into the game," Snyder said.
"It is nice when the shots go."
Utah will play two of their key rivals in the run to the finals, taking on Houston (away) on March 23 before hosting the Mavericks in their penultimate game of the season on April 11.
Unfortunately for the Jazz it was a 132-120 overtime win by Dallas over Portland that kept Utah out of the top eight.
Locked at 113-113 thanks to a Damian Lillard lay-up with 30 seconds to go, both teams had the chance to win the game.
Dallas substitute Salah Mejri missed a pair of free-throws with 13 seconds on the clock, then after a time out Lillard got a good look at a three, which he missed, sending the game to overtime.
In the extra period Dallas were dominant as Dirk Nowitzki made eight of his 40 points in overtime.
While Nowitzki had a season high so did guard Deron Williams, with 31 points and 16 assists.
Williams made a tiebreaking three in overtime before Nowitzki scored his points, all assisted by Williams.
"It's my job as a point guard," Williams said. "You've got to know when your good fella's hot."
Nowitzki has scored 20 or more points in eight straight games. His 20th career 40-point game was his first since January 11, 2014, and the first by a 37-year-old since Karl Malone in 2000-01.
"Williams set it all up. His aggressiveness, him taking guys off the dribble, using a great rhythm today," Nowitzki said.
Share
