The Memphis Grizzlies fell victim to a brilliant performance by Utah Jazz rookie Darryn Peterson in Summer League action on Monday.
The Memphis Grizzlies fell victim to a brilliant performance by Utah Jazz rookie Darryn Peterson in Summer League action on Monday.
With both teams playing in their second Summer League game in Salt Lake City, the Jazz moved to 2-0 while the Grizzlies fell to 1-1.
The clash featured a matchup between Peterson (the No. 2 overall pick this year) and Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer (the No. 3 overall pick). Boozer had a very strong performance himself, but it was Peterson who stole the show.
Peterson finished with 25 points, 12 assists and two rebounds while shooting 8-for-15 from the field and 3-for-9 from beyond the arc. It was an impressive second act for him after he already scored 28 points in Utah's Summer League opener.
Meanwhile, Boozer's showing was nothing to sneeze at. He had 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the loss and was very efficient. He went 6-for-9 from the field and 4-for-5 from deep. That's after he had a strong Summer League debut himself in which he totaled 15 points, four boards and four assists on 7-for-11 shooting.
Both Peterson and Boozer appear to be on thrilling trajectories after being taken with two of the top picks in this year's draft. If their limited Summer League action is any indication, the future is incredibly bright for the top of this draft class.
For the Grizzlies, their entire starting lineup produced in Monday's game. Boozer aside, here are the highlights from the other four starters:
- Carson Cooper: 10 points (3-for-5 shooting) and six rebounds
- Cedric Coward: 23 points (9-for-21 shooting) and three blocks
- Olivier-Maxence Prosper: 16 points (5-for-11 shooting), three rebounds and two assists
- Javon Small: 14 points (4-for-12 shooting), six assists, five rebounds and three steals
Memphis can now turn its attention to its final game in Salt Lake City, which is set for Tuesday. The team will face the Atlanta Hawks to wrap things up in Utah before shifting to Las Vegas for more Summer League play.
In Vegas, things will get started for the Grizzlies on Friday with a matchup against the Chicago Bulls.
While Summer League isn't all about winning, Memphis may have a chance to make a little noise in Vegas and push for the crown depending on how the chips fall. A Summer League title would certainly be a nice accomplishment for the group as the Grizzlies look to ride their young talent to genuine contention in the future.
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