AJ Dybantsa did not just make his summer league debut in Las Vegas. He turned the matchup against Darryn Peterson into the kind of showcase that had Anthony Davis, Trae Young, Cooper Flagg and Jalen Williams in the building to watch.
The Washington Wizards’ No. 1 pick scored 27 points and added seven rebounds in 26 minutes, leading his team to a 92-88 win over the Utah Jazz. Peterson, the No. 2 pick, finished with 24 points in a game that lived up to the billing even with both players missing shots they usually make.
Dybantsa and Peterson Deliver the Duel Everyone Came For
ESPN reported that both rookies were aggressive from the opening minutes, though neither was sharp from long range. Dybantsa and Peterson combined to shoot 2-for-12 from 3-point range, but the scoring pressure and one-on-one shot creation still gave the game a strong summer-league edge.
Dybantsa said afterward that the matchup had special meaning because Peterson had gotten the better of him before. “Every time I play him, it’s a great setting,” Dybantsa told ESPN afterward. “He got the best of me three times — two in high school, one in college. I just wanted to come out on top, get a win first and foremost.”
Peterson also made clear that he wanted the game. He had previously said after being drafted that it “will always be in my mind for my whole career” that he was selected second, and he said after Thursday’s loss that the game mattered more than a normal summer league outing.
Big Moments, Missed Threes, And A Brief Injury Concern
Dybantsa’s night included several flashes that matched the expectations around a No. 1 pick. He scored his first basket by driving left, then followed with a reverse layup in traffic, and later thrilled the crowd by slipping past two Jazz defenders before finishing a two-handed dunk through contact.
After the dunk, he flexed and screamed, later saying, “It was the only way I can score that bucket,” and adding that he got fouled “like twice” on the play. He finished 7-for-18 from the field and missed all five of his 3-point attempts, while also handing out two assists.
Dybantsa did not finish the game because of leg soreness, but he said he is good and expects to play Sunday against the Sacramento Kings. He also said he felt he could have added more rebounds and assists, even though the win was the biggest thing he would take from the night.
Peterson had his own notable stretches, including a 24-foot fadeaway 3 for his first made basket and several possessions where he created separation for his own shot. He shot 6-for-18 overall, missed 5 of 7 from 3-point range and committed eight turnovers, even though he had already shown more scoring and playmaking in earlier Utah summer league games.
Peterson had previously put up 28 points against the Atlanta Hawks and 25 points with 12 assists against the Memphis Grizzlies, but Thursday’s game belonged to Dybantsa in the final score and in the energy around the arena. The two top picks gave the crowd exactly what it came to see, and the matchup added another layer to the rivalry that already followed them into the league.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.
| Player | Team | Key Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AJ Dybantsa | Washington Wizards | 27 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 7-for-18 FG, 0-for-5 3PT | Left with leg soreness but said he is good |
| Darryn Peterson | Utah Jazz | 24 points, 6-for-18 FG, 0-for-5 3PT, 8 turnovers | Played in a duel with the No. 1 pick |