Wizards' Dybantsa outduels Jazz's Peterson in summer league debut - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — A buzz circulated through the Thomas and Mack Center on Thursday night as Anthony Davis, Trae Young, Cooper Flagg and Jalen Williams navigated their way to courtside seats.

The stars were all there to watch this year's No. 1 pick, AJ Dybantsa, make his summer league debut for the Washington Wizards against the No. 2 pick, Darryn Peterson of the Utah Jazz. Though Dybantsa and Peterson missed some shots they are accustomed to making and went a combined 2-for-12 from 3, they still had a duel that did not disappoint while displaying flashes of their exciting potential.

Dybantsa led all players with 27 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes to power Washington to a 92-88 win.

Peterson finished with 24 points.

«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.»

Dybantsa did not finish the game because of leg soreness but said he is good and will play in the Wizards' next game, Sunday against the Sacramento Kings.

Both players were not shy to start the game. Dybantsa missed his first shot on a driving attempt that was blocked, and Peterson missed his first shot, a pullup 3 — all in the first minute.

But the 6-foot-9 Dybantsa flashed his tantalizing athleticism and length. He scored his first basket driving with his left hand before scoring with his right on an impressive reverse layup in traffic with 9:22 to go in the first quarter.

Peterson's first made basket was a 24-foot fadeaway 3. He displayed his ability to create his own shot a few times by sidestepping his way free of a defender but missed a couple of those 3s. He shot 6-for-18 for the game but