Darryn Peterson Explodes for 23 Points as Jazz Rookie Settles In Fast

Darryn Peterson needed only one preseason game to look much more like the player the Utah Jazz selected No. 2 overall. After scoring just three points in his debut, Peterson erupted for 23 points in Tuesday night’s 117-106 preseason loss to the Denver Nuggets, shooting 10-of-18 from the field while adding three rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes.

The most encouraging part for Utah wasn’t simply the scoring total. Peterson found ways to produce even though his outside shot wasn’t falling, making only one of six attempts from three. He attacked inside the arc, played with more pace and looked considerably more comfortable creating his own offense. Before the game, Jazz coach Will Hardy said Peterson had appeared almost “frozen” while trying to be too precise in his debut. Peterson’s response was exactly what Utah wanted to see: decisiveness. Afterward, the rookie said the game already felt slower to him.

One preseason performance doesn’t establish Peterson as an NBA star, but the turnaround matters. Utah drafted him to become a major part of its future, and Tuesday offered the first NBA-level glimpse of his ability to create separation, score from different spots and recover from mistakes without disappearing. For Jazz fans, the final score was secondary. Peterson looking comfortable this quickly was the development worth remembering.