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In his three seasons with the Utah Jazz, Joe Ingles has always possessed a quick wit.
It was a season ago when the affable Aussie was asked if he considered himself the Stephen Curry of Australia.
"He's the Joe Ingles of America," he quipped.
Ingles couldn't quite keep up with Golden State's MVP on Thursday night in Salt Lake City, where a shorthanded Jazz team fell 106-99 to the star-studded Warriors. But the man who has been called Slo-Mo Joe did his best to show his wit isn't the only thing quick about him.
"He's worked at releasing the ball quicker and he was conscious of being aggressive tonight," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "He gave us a big lift when he came in."
The Jazz were without four of their five regular starters — and the vast majority of their usual offensive production — when the took the floor at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
But while Curry's game-high 26 points ultimately led Golden State to victory, Ingles' career-high 21-point performance kept Utah hanging around in a game most expected to be a blowout.
"No different really than any other game," Ingles said regarding his mindset entering the night. "Obviously the opportunity was there with a few guys out to get some minutes and if you make your first couple it makes the game a lot easier."
For Ingles, it was the third time this season he has reached double-digit scoring. But even if his scoring numbers don't reflect it, Ingles has impressed his coach with the things he has added to his game at this stage in his career.
Snyder lauded Ingles' improved ball handling and playmaking. He is also shooting a career-best 45 percent from 3-point territory and knocked down five of his nine looks from deep on Thursday.
"Sometimes when guys are a little bit older relatively speaking," Snyder said of the 29-year-old Ingles, "you don't see that kind of progress in their games."
But it's the forward's flexibility that has impressed his coach most this season.
"One of the things I told him is it's going to be a hard year, where he's going to have games where he plays a lot or he may not play," Snyder said.
Ingles, who has played everything from point guard to power forward for the Jazz over the past three seasons, has started 35 games in a Jazz uniform.
He's also seen games this season in which he has been limited to just four minutes of action.
"He's one of those guys a coach can be able to rely on someone's character to be able to handle the fluctuations in minutes," Snyder said. "That's what makes a player like Joe really valuable. He can be there when he's needed."
Twitter: @aaronfalk