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MEMPHIS — With 3:36 remaining in the Jazz’s 96-88 win over Memphis on Monday, a stream of blood slowly trickled down Joe Ingles’ face from the wound above his left eye. He hadn’t noticed the cut, saying later that it felt like he had just got a hand to the face. But play was halted when officials noticed the laceration and Ingles headed to the bench to get the bleeding stopped.
Ingles received four stitches, the first in his life, for the wound and then had his head wrapped with medical tape creating the image he was wearing a large headband.
Thus the legend of Headband Joe was born.
With 45.4 seconds remaining, Ingles, medical tape and all, nailed a 3-pointer to put the Jazz a 94-84 lead, effectively clinching the game. After the shot went in, Ingles immediately pointed to the headband and then traced the outside of it with his thumbs and forefingers. Those actions just added to the Internet’s love of Ingles’ new accessory. The Jazz even added a headband to their logo on Twitter in honor of Ingles.
“That’s what I've been striving for my whole life,” Ingles deadpanned when informed of the Internet’s reaction.
Even Ingles’ wife, Renae, got into the fun, tweeting, “The twins are going to want headbands tomorrow!”
“I just wanted to win the game,” Ingles said. “We were playing well. I just wanted to go back in. I told Eric (Utah Jazz head trainer Eric Waters) to wrap it up as quick as possible and I was able to get back out there.”
And by doing so, gave Jazz fans one more reason to love the Australian. Ingles finished with a team-high 19 points (five of which came with the wrap) while adding six rebounds and five assists.
“He’s a tough guy,” Derrick Favors said of Ingles. “He’s always ready to play.”
It was a moment of toughness, but also one filled with comedy.
Rudy Gobert, who finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds, said he had couldn’t pay attention to the headband because he was trying to stay focused.
“It was hard,” Gobert said. “I was looking down when I was trying to set a screen.”
He never came right out and said it, but his implication was clear: He couldn’t look because he didn’t want to laugh.
“I don't know I’d be ready to play with that,” Gobert said. “But it shows that competitiveness.”
And that competitiveness was shown by more than just the now famous headband,
“I’m not coming back (to Memphis),” Ingles joked. “My shoulder's sore, my toes, everything."
Only gif you'll need for the rest of your life ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XhTArW2vXj
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 13, 2018
Exum’s big night
On Sunday morning, Dante Exum was out on the court at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus before practice getting up extra shots. The guard had played just three minutes in Utah’s win against Boston last Friday and he was trying to stay ready. He knew he’d be needed in the future.
“Just doing what I can to be ready for the next game,” Exum said Sunday. “It’s just little things … but I’ll be ready for next time I come back in.”
That time came against Memphis on Monday. Exum played an instrumental part of the Jazz’s win over the Grizzlies, finishing with nine points in 21 minutes. Ricky Rubio was saddled with foul trouble for much of the game, and eventually fouling out, pushing Exum into an expanded role.
Exum delivered.
"Dante was terrific tonight,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “He changed the game in the first half with his ball pressure. Really, really proud of him."
Snyder and Exum had a one-on-one meeting between Friday’s game and Monday’s contest. Exum didn’t want to reveal the specifics of the discussion that took place, but did say this: “ I’ll be better when I come back in.”
He was.
Exum was outstanding on the defensive end, pressuring the Memphis guards early in possessions — though Mike Conley did get him on a crossover for a deep 3 — and showcasing his improving offensive game. In the second half, Exum got around former Jazzman Shelvin Mack on a drive to the hoop. The Grizzlies made an adjustment, choosing to give Exum a short floater instead of a layup opportunity. Exum recognized that and pulled up in the paint, draining the short push shot.
With Rubio in foul trouble, it was a performance the Jazz needed to grind out their third straight win. And it was a performance, Exum made sure he was ready to give.
