Darryn Peterson (left) and AJ Dybantsa (right) pose for a portrait after being drafted. NBAE via Getty Images See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on Google The Las Vegas NBA Summer League kicks off Thursday with a loaded slate of games taking place at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Among the games worth watching, one stands above the rest: Jazz vs. Wizards.
It’s a matchup NBA fans would have avoided like the plague in recent regular seasons, but after the teams landed the top two draft picks this year, the NBA world gets to see a glimpse of the future of the league.
No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa is expected to make his debut in this game for the Wizards, and No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson already has two Salt Lake City Summer League games under his belt.
Peterson scored 28 points in his first game against the Hawks and followed that up with a 25-point, 12-assist outing against the Grizzlies, building the buzz for tonight’s game.
Summer League performances should be taken with a grain of salt, but Peterson’s game translates when facing this level of competition. His pull-up game, his drives to the basket, and his feel for finding corner shooters — Peterson clearly has the tools to be great.
Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz. NBAE via Getty Images Peterson made it clear that beating No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer and the Grizzlies in his second game was a motivating factor, so we can expect that he’ll take it to Dybantsa, too. As much as this game will be billed as Peterson vs. Dybantsa, there are other players on each roster, including NBA-level players.
That’s the more important factor in terms of who wins the game vs who wins the rookie showcase. The Jazz also have Cody Williams and Ace Bailey, two players who each played over 65 games last season. Both guys have played meaningful minutes in the NBA already and are looking to show they are overqualified for the Vegas minutes.
The line here is basically a coin flip because minutes are so unpredictable, but I think the Jazz roster has more talent and the benefit of playing three games in Utah.
I’ll throw down a small bet on Peterson and the Jazz to kick off their Vegas schedule with a win.
The Play: Jazz moneyline (-130, bet365)
Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.
