Ingles down and dirty for Jazz
JOE Ingles only scored three points in the Utah Jazz’s NBA playoff series-levelling 102-95 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but his teammates were full of praise for their Australian forward.
They are used to Ingles doing the crucial, invisible things that are not recorded on a score sheet.
Ingles was schooled by Thunder All-Star Paul George in Monday’s game one but he responded yesterday with a defensive effort that George at just 18 points — down from 36 last time — and scoreless in the decisive last quarter.
“Joe has been the guy for us who does all of the dirty work,” said Donovan Mitchell, the Jazz rookie who did fill the score sheet with a game-high 28 points.
“Tonight he was locked in on the defensive end after Paul George had a great game one.
“The way he responded defensively in this game was very impressive.”
The Jazz’s win defied a venomous crowd at Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena and evens the best-of-seven first-round series at 1-1. The Jazz now have an opportunity to take control of the series with the next two games on their home court in Salt Lake City.
LEBRON JAMES crystalised his reputation as one of the best playoff performers in NBA history yesterday as the Cleveland Cavaliers rebounded from a game one rout with a 100-97 win over the Indiana Pacers.
James scored 20 of his 46 points in the opening quarter, getting off to a torrid start in which he singlehandedly outscored the Pacers 13-0 and 16-1 to begin game two of the first round Eastern Conference series.
In the late game, the HOUSTON ROCKETS crushed the Minnesota Timberwolves 102-82 to seize a 2-0 series lead.
Chris Paul had 27 points as the Rockets drained 16 three pointers compared to just five threes for the Timberwolves. Nemanja Bjelica led the Timberwolves with 16 points.
Cleveland bounced back from an embarrassing 98-80 loss at home in game one and the mighty James set the tone early Wednesday, giving credence to coach Tyronn Lue’s pre-game prediction that if he showed up, the Cavs would level the series.
He did exactly that, shoot- ing 17 of 24 field goals and delivering 12 rebounds and five assists as the Cleveland had to survive a late fourth-quarter charge by the Pacers.
“He did a great job of just being aggressive and attacking the basket for our team. LeBron did a great job setting the tone offensively,” Lue said.
The 33-year-old James also helped put the game away with two clutch free throws with 18 seconds left to make it 99-92.