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Joe Ingles calls his old coach "one of the most positive people I've ever been around."

Good thing, too.

Coming into Thursday's game in Salt Lake City, the 76ers had lost five of their last six games, bringing coach Brett Brown's record to a dismal 54-222 over four seasons in Philadelphia.

"The amount of games they've lost over that time period is always going to be frustrating," said Ingles, whom Brown coached for four years on the Australian national team. "… [But] I think he's probably the best guy for that job, to rebuild a team."

While the 55-year-old Brown has amassed a record that would get most NBA coaches fired, he maintains a pair of avid supporters in Utah.

"I really respect the job that he's done under some difficult circumstances at times," said Jazz coach Quin Snyder.

Snyder developed a relationship with Brown while the two were working the San Antonio Spurs organization.

"He was one of the guys on the staff that really took me under his wing," Snyder said. "He always loved talking basketball. I probably bored him a lot."

As for Ingles, the forward said he had never seriously considered his NBA prospects until he played for Brown.

"He's a huge part of why I'm here today," Ingles said.

Hill returns

For Jazz fans, Christmas came a little late.

After a monthlong absence, starting point guard George Hill finally made his return to the court Thursday night against the 76ers.

He had not played since Nov. 29 because of a sprained toe on his left foot.

"I think his conditioning will be an issue, it really always is [for a player returning from injury]," Snyder said. "I think it will be less of an issue with him. … There are parts of his body that he hasn't felt in a while that will get fatigued. But the type of athlete he is, I think he'll get that back pretty quick."

Hill started the game and had five points, four assists and two rebounds by halftime.

Injury report

Shooting guard Alec Burks continues to inch closer to a return to the court. On Thursday, Burks went through shootaround with his teammates, though how long it will be until he is ready to return to game action remains to be seen.

"There's just another level there in Alec's case really because he hasn't played in so long," Snyder said of Burks, who underwent ankle surgery Nov. 1 and has yet to make his season debut. "There's just a different math in him coming back and playing at the level these games are."

Dante Exum missed his fourth straight game because of tendinitis in his surgically repaired left knee. The point guard will be re-evaluated Saturday.

Twitter: @aaronfalk