Ingles: Jazz Just Have To Play Better In Game Two

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – While tonight’s game two against the Memphis Grizzlies is a near must-win for the Utah Jazz, guard Joe Ingles said the team isn’t feeling immense pressure ahead of the matchup.

The Jazz lost game one 112-109, trailing by as much as 17 in the fourth quarter before a furious comeback came up just short.

Trailing in the series 0-1, the Jazz don’t want to head to Memphis with a two-game deficit by losing both home games to open the series.

“I wouldn’t say pressure,” Ingles said of the Jazz mood entering game two. “I think we expect ourselves to play better.”

The @utahjazz will have their full starting lineup first time in more than a month when they face the @memgrizz in game two. #takeNotehttps://t.co/znt4uUT4qu

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 26, 2021

The Jazz shot just 12-47 from the three-point line, their second-worst percentage of the season, committing 14 turnovers through the first three quarters of the game, and gave up 16 offensive rebounds to the Grizzlies.

“I think that the offensive rebound and turnovers are two things that we can control a little bit,” Ingles said of fixing the Jazz issues from game one. “Obviously, the rebounding is something we need to focus on.”

Memphis big man Jonas Valanciunas had six offensive rebounds, while eight other Grizzlies players grabbed at least one board on the offensive end.

Beyond the specifics, Ingles was clear about what the Jazz needed to do to win game two.

“You can put whatever fancy 10 letter word on there that you want to make it sound cool in a story but for us, we’ve just got to play better,” Ingles said. “We’ve got to play better.”

While the team focuses on better executing their game plan, they will get a major shot in the arm with the return of Donovan Mitchell.

After a tumultuous weekend, the @utahjazz are looking forward to game two:

"Going into game two, everybody will be a little bit more clear-headed.”#takenote https://t.co/4da98TNOSw

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 25, 2021

The All-Star guard has missed the last 17 games, including game one of the series with a severely sprained ankle but will return for game two.

“It’ll be exciting to have him out there and getting back into a flow with us,” Ingles said of Mitchell. “Just to have his presence out there his scoring, his attacking, and what he’s done this year defensively as well.”

The Jazz and Grizzlies tip-off game two at 8 pm MT. The game will be broadcast on TNT and AT&T SportsNet.