Australia defeated Senegal by a score of 81-68 in the first group stage of the FIBA World Cup on Tuesday, largely thanks to a monster effort from Joe Ingles in which he poured in 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
The Utah Jazz forward finished just one assist shy of recording the first triple-double in FIBA World Cup history, and after the game, Ingles seemed indifferent about his near-feat:
“I didn’t know that and even though I do know it now it still doesn’t really bother me,” said Ingles, according to Australian basketball writer Kane Pittman. “The only goal was to win the game.”
Based on how well he has played for the Jazz over the last few years, it's not surprising that Ingles has largely been Australia's best all-around player thus far in the tournament. Ingles and the Boomers are off to a 2-0 start in the FIBA World Cup, and they face a showdown against Lithuania next to finish off the opening round:
Joe Ingles today: 17 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Beyond the counting stats, Ingles was the best Boomer at both ends today, just like he was v Canada. Clearly the Boomers MVP of the #FIBAWC so far and playing some of the best ball in the tournament. pic.twitter.com/j2eojZRmdE
— Ben Mallis (@BenMallis) September 3, 2019
Ingles is coming off a 2018-19 campaign in which he played all 82 games, marking the third straight year he has appeared in every contest. He averaged 12.1 points, 5.7 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals over 31.3 minutes per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the floor, 39.1 percent from 3-point range and 70.7 percent from the free-throw line.
The 31-year-old was originally claimed off waivers by Utah back in 2014 and proceeded to participate in 79 games with the Jazz during the 2014-15 season, registering 5.0 points and 2.3 assists across 21.2 minutes a night.
It wasn't until 2016-17 that Ingles first began to shine, as he played in every game and posted 7.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals through 24.0 minutes per game while making 45.2 percent of his field goal attempts, 44.1 percent of his long-distance tries and 73.5 percent of his foul shots.
He followed that up by logging 11.5 points, 4.8 assists, 4.2 boards and 1.1 steals over 31.4 minutes a night in 2017-18, connecting on 46.7 percent of his shots, 44.0 percent of his triples and 79.5 percent of his free throws.
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