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Joe Ingles sets a Jazz season record for 3-pointers

Australian swingman passes Randy Foye in record book.

Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) shoots over Sacramento Kings center Kosta Koufos (41) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 17, 2018, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Joe Ingles didn’t find out he had broken a team record from a coach, a teammate, a team official or a tweet.

He found out from his wife, Renae Ingles, as he scrolled through his text messages after a 103-97 win over the Sacramento Kings.

“First message I read from my wife was that,” he said. “It was a cool way to find out from her. It’s an honor to be a part of this franchise and now, to hold something. There’s a few untouchables, but I found one I can get.”

Ingles is now the Utah Jazz (40-30) record-holder for most 3-pointers in a single season, hitting his 179th in the fourth quarter with just 2:23 left to play in a competitive game. And that’s just the way he would have it — not in garbage minutes, not just stat-stuffing, but when it was actually serving the team’s interest.

The 30-year-old Australian’s blossoming NBA career is unlikely in many fashions. While he’s actually leading the NBA with 45 percent shooting from 3-point range, in the larger picture, even Ingles took pause to appreciate that he leads all Jazz players in history in the category.

It’s, in part, a milestone that’s been achieved because the NBA game has shifted to more spread-out sets that value the 3-point shot. But even in a league that is empowering its 3-point shooters, Ingles has been famously egged on by coach Quin Snyder to shoot more.

With 12 more games to go, he’s on pace to distance himself from second-place Randy Foye (2012-13) by a good margin. But since the beginning of the season, even though he knew he’d have a larger role, Ingles had no ambition to shoot this many threes.

He may look like a math teacher, but the numbers don’t mean much to him.

“I’ve never had goals, numbers-wise,” he said. “I’ve never gone into a season saying I need to average this or do this. Except wins. I’ll take wins. We’re headed in the right direction with that.”