Knee injury for Aussie NBA star Joe Ingles
Utah teammates are crossing their fingers for Joe Ingles, who will have scans on a knee injury that could have serious ramifications for the Australian's NBA career.
A key piece for the title-contending Jazz, Ingles was driving to the basket in the second quarter against Minnesota when his left knee buckled in a non-contact incident.
The Target Center crowd went silent as Ingles writhed in pain and his teammates surrounded him on the court, before he was taken away in the arms of staff.
Ingles will have scans in Salt Lake City on Tuesday (AEDT), an ACL tear the primary fear that would rule him out for the remainder of the season.
The 34-year-old is in the final year of his contract and enjoying his eighth campaign with the Jazz, having played 635 out of 650 games since arriving in 2014-15 and becoming their all-time three point leader.
"Seeing Joe, that took a lot out of guys. Tears in his eyes. We know how much it means to him, this game means to him and what we mean to him," teammate Mike Conley said.
"It's tough but not everything is supposed to be easy ... you just pray for Joe, hope it's as minimal as possible.
"He was in a tough state (at halftime), everybody came in and told him we loved him, gave him a hug."
Rudy Gay said: "It's not even about the basketball; just having him in the locker room is good for us. He's our guy."
Acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers, Ingles had starred for Israel's EuroLeague champions Maccabi Tel Aviv and also enjoyed a stint in Spain after beginning in the NBL with Melbourne's South Dragons.
Ingles was a crucial piece as the Boomers powered to a historic bronze medal at last year's Tokyo Olympics and is adored by the Utah fanbase.
Pipped by teammate Jordan Clarkson for NBA sixth man of the year honours last season, he has established himself as one of the league's best perimeter shooters and basketball minds.
Ingles entered Sunday's game averaging 7.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 40.8 per cent from the floor and a career-worst 35.1 per cent from the deep, down from a career-high 45.1 per cent last season.
The Jazz were beaten 126-106 by the Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns collecting 31 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell missed his seventh straight game with a concussion and All-Star centre Rudy Gobert missed his fourth game with a left calf strain.
The Jazz have now dropped five straight and eight of 10 games to be fourth in the Western Conference.
