Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Las Vegas, NV–
It was a star-studded tonight in Las Vegas, and it was all about the debut of #1 pick AJ Debantsa in the first NBA Summer League game for the Wizards and he didn’t disappoint with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals proving that the Wizards got their guy.
Debantsa not only put out one of the best Wizards pro debuts, but he also tied Blake Griffin’s rookie record from 2009 in 27 points in the first game in Summer League play.
Tonight was also the match-up that many wanted to see the #1 vs the #2 Darren Peterson. Debantsa may have won the battle, but Peterson’s 24 points wasn’t too shabby
He became standing sensation when he grabbed his first poster of the summer driving through the paint and dunking on three Jazz players in the first half. While the Wizards controlled most of the game and the Jazz made it a game with a little over 2 minutes remaining, but two quick buckets by the Wizards put the game out of reach and the three pointer at the Buzzer by Peterson didn’t matter at that point.
Tre Johnson followed Dybantsa with 26 points and Will Riley added 18 for the Wizards. On the Utah side, Cody Williams contributed 16 points while Trey Alexander scored 13. Both players grabbed 5 rebounds.
Dybantsa left the game with 1:24 remaining with leg tightness, but said after the game it was just something minor and nothing to be too concerned about.
Tonight was the first game where all 30 teams will participate during the 11-day competition in Las Vegas, with each team playing at least five games.
After each team has played four games, the top four teams (based off record and tie-breakers) will advance to the playoffs, which begin on July 18. The two winning teams from the semifinal games will play in the championship game on July 19.
The 26 teams that do not make the playoffs will play a fifth game on either July 17, July 18 or July 19.
