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Ingles' versatility boosts NBA leader Jazz

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Joe Ingles again filled in successfully at point guard as Utah beat Orlando in their NBA clash.
Camera IconJoe Ingles again filled in successfully at point guard as Utah beat Orlando in their NBA clash.

Joe Ingles' experience and versatility are paying handsome dividends for NBA leaders Utah Jazz.

The 33-year-old Australian continued his perfect season record when switched to point guard as he guided the Jazz to a 124-109 away win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

Usually a small forward, Ingles had 17 points, six assists and three 3-pointers as the Jazz bounced back from a loss a night earlier in Miami.

The Jazz (27-7) are 7-0 this season when Ingles starts at point guard in place of Mike Conley, who was out with right hamstring injury management.

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That's the same injury that kept Conley out from February 2-12, a six-game stretch where Utah won each game with Ingles sharing ball-handling duties with Mitchell.

"I try to play the same game, but I realise I'm going to have the ball more in certain situations," said Ingles, who had four assists to centre Rudy Gobert in the first half. "I'm just making sure I'm getting guys involved and getting them in the right spots."

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Fellow guard Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points, Gobert had 12 points and 16 rebounds and Jordan Clarkson, the NBA's top-scoring reserve, had 18 points as the Jazz showed their resilience.

Utah have lost consecutive games just once all season and not since January 6 when they were 4-4.

"We're not allowed to be tired, for one thing," said Utah coach Quin Snyder, whose team improved to 5-1 this season on the second night of a back-to-backs.

Mitchell shook off a scoreless first quarter and scored 25 of his 31 points in the second half as the Jazz won by double digits for an NBA-best 23rd time this season.

In Philadelphia, Ben Simmons' eastern conference-leading 76ers fell to a shock 112-109 defeat by the lowly-ranked Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime.

Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid combined for 66 points but it was not quite enough.

Embiid had another monster game with 42 points and 13 rebounds while fellow All-Star Simmons scored 24 points - as he surpassed 4000 in his NBA career - and dished out eight assists.

Collin Sexton scored 28 points and Darius Garland had 25 for the feisty Cavaliers, who earned their first win on the road since January 7.

The Sixers, who played without Tobias Harris (right knee contusion), lost for only the third time at home all season to be 22-12.

Boomers guard Patty Mills netted 13 points off the bench with four 3-pointers in the San Antonio Spurs' 117-114 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Washington Wizards won for the seventh time in eight game by easing past the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-112, the Denver Nuggets routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 126-96 and the New York Knick beat the Indiana pacers 110-107.

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