LAS VEGAS - Darryn Peterson didn’t flinch after the Utah Jazz’s Summer League loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. The No. 2 overall pick saw Keaton Wagler walk away with the win, and he still made it clear where he stands on the pecking order.
Peterson was direct when asked about the matchup at the Thomas & Mack Center. He gave Wagler credit for the result, then drew a hard line on everything else.
“They got the dub, so I’d say he won the matchup. I’ll watch the film back and see, but I’m always taking me vs. all- everybody. Everybody in our draft, not top-5,” Peterson declared.
Wagler’s night started in familiar fashion. After going 1-for-7 in his Summer League debut, the No. 5 pick opened this game with the same shooting line before turning it around in a hurry. He hit three of his last four 3-point tries and poured in 18 points in the second half alone.
By the end, Wagler had the stronger box score and the Clippers had the bigger number on the scoreboard, 104-82. He finished with 23 points and four assists, going 4-for-7 from deep and matching Peterson with six field goals made. Peterson ended at 6-for-18 from the floor, with two more misses than Wagler.
That kind of confidence from Peterson fits the moment. This draft class is loaded with upside, and the top names still have plenty of runway before the production catches up. Even after big nights from players like No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson, Peterson has the talent to make his stance look even better as time goes on.
There’s also a chance for more head-to-head theater on Monday night, when the Jazz and Chicago Bulls are scheduled to meet. Wilson would have been part of that stage, but only he is playing. For Peterson, the real proving ground is still ahead - and he’ll get a lot more shots at it in the years to come.
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For the Jazz, the immediate concern is simply getting a clearer picture of Alexanders condition after a moment that stopped the game in its tracks. Summer League is built around development and evaluation, but incidents like this can quickly overshadow everything else, leaving teammates, coaches and fans waiting on the next update more than the final score. [Read more 🡒]