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Utah Jazz vs. Atlanta Hawks Key Matchup: Joe Ingles vs. Taurean Prince

By Hayden Van de Maat

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 22: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks on January 22, 2018 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 22: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks on January 22, 2018 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Utah Jazz are hunting for their 10th straight win against the Atlanta Hawks led by Jazz-draftee Taurean Prince, who is fresh off an outstanding 38-point performance.

Taurean Prince’s NBA career began as Adam Silver announced his name on draft night in 2016 as the 12th pick to the Utah Jazz. Little did we know at the time, he was a draft choice of the Atlanta Hawks who received the pick in exchange for Jeff Teague moving to Indiana, which sent George Hill to Utah.

He will be going up against franchise record holder Joe Ingles in what is set to be an intriguing individual matchup. Joe Ingles is currently on top of the NBA leaderboard in three-point percentage and just knocked off Randy Foye as the leader for most made threes in a single season by a Utah Jazz player.

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The Aussie veteran has made 45 percent of his three point attempts this season including 28 of his last 58 (48.3 percent) over the course of the win streak. Joe has been an integral part of the Jazz ripping off 21 wins in just 23 outings and is proving worthy of the hefty four year, $52 million contract the Jazz gave him this past summer.

Not only is Joe making his mark from the three-point line, his stat line has been impressive across the board. Slow-mo Joe is averaging 4.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals to go along with his 14.7 points on 50 percent from the field.

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Utah Jazz

However, Ingles is now faced with a new challenge in guarding Taurean Prince, who is coming off a monstrous performance against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. Prince went off for 38 points, eight rebounds and a pair of blocked shots. What is scary about this game is that he didn’t even have a good shooting night, making just four of his 13 three-point attempts.

Prince has quietly improved his game dramatically from his rookie season and has quickly become one of the NBA’s sought-after ‘three-and-D’ guys, with room to become much more. The former Baylor Bear has improved every facet of his game following an impressive rookie campaign last season.

He’s currently averaging 13.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a steal on 42 percent from the field and 39 percent from behind the arc. His defense has stalled somewhat from last year but he has terrific defensive instincts and the physical tools to become a lockdown defender. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Prince’s name on an NBA All-Defensive team a few years down the road.

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This game may have some added flare after the Jazz were embarrassed last time out against Atlanta. Luckily for Utah, however, this loss may have been the spark that turned the season around on a 180 degree angle. Let’s see if Joe’s hot shooting carries over and leads the Jazz to their second 10-game win streak of the season.

Statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference.

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