Advertisement

'Didn't look good': Fears for Joe Ingles after brutal NBA injury

Aussie NBA star Joe Ingles is awaiting scans after suffering what looked to be a serious knee injury against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Pictures: NBA/Getty Images
Aussie NBA star Joe Ingles is awaiting scans after suffering what looked to be a serious knee injury against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Pictures: NBA/Getty Images

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.

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.

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.