'Didn't look good': Fears for Joe Ingles after brutal NBA injury
Australian NBA fans are holding their breath after Utah Jazz star Joe Ingles suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury on Monday afternoon.
The Jazz will send Ingles for an MRI on Tuesday, after his left knee buckled beneath him as he drove to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
FANTASY BASKETBALL: Waiver wire options for week 16 of the NBA
'BULLSH*T': NBA fans in uproar over villain's 'thuggish' act
The rival arena fell quiet after Ingles went down without making any contact with his defender, as teammates gathered around the 34-year-old Olympic medallist.
Ingles was on the floor for several minutes before he was eventually helped from the court, unable to put any weight on his left leg.
A serious injury would be a devastating blow for the Jazz, one of the Western Conference's leading teams with ambitions of making the NBA Finals.
Joe Ingles has gone down with what appears to be a serious knee injury.
Scans in Salt Lake City tomorrow will confirm the extent of the damage.
Fingers crossed, Joe 🙏 pic.twitter.com/86wim8cUVL— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) January 31, 2022
The popular Australian is the all-time leading three-point shooter for the Jazz since they signed him in 2014, and has played 635 out of 650 games since.
His Jazz teammates were understandably concerned after their 126-106 loss to the Timberwolves.
"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."
Fellow teammate Rudy Gay said Ingles' presence as the Jazz's glue guy went beyond his production on the court.
"It's not even about the basketball; just having him in the locker room is good for us. He's our guy," he said.
Fans on social media were also concerned for the Jazz sharpshooter's playing future.
Hoping for the best for Joe Ingles. Since entering the NBA in 2014-15, he has played 635 out of 650 games including regular season and postseason. He's been a true iron man for the Jazz and so loved in the community. Crossing everything it isn't as serious as it looks.
— Kane Pitman (@KanePitman) January 31, 2022
Not good signs for Aussie Joe Ingles in the NBA. Mechanism cause for multiple concerns: ACL/MCL injury and/or patellar dislocation the most significant. Best hope to escape with meniscus injury/bone bruise but didn’t look good pic.twitter.com/CyJaGlcr88
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) January 31, 2022
I'm gutted for Joe Ingles. Let's hope the injury isn't as serious as it looked.
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) January 31, 2022
I missed it live, but seeing the replay, I'm really worried for Joe Ingles. Non-contact and knee just buckled. Hoping for the best.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) January 31, 2022
Fears for Joe Ingles' NBA future after worrying knee injury
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.
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.
With AAP
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
