Peterson leads Utah Jazz past Memphis in Salt Lake City and outshines Boozer in NBA Summer League 2026

Peterson led the Utah Jazz to victory over Memphis and marked a matchup of high NBA draft picks

The Utah Jazz defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 109:100 in a group-stage game of the NBA Salt Lake City Summer League, played on July 6, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. local time in Salt Lake City. The matchup at the Jon M. Huntsman Center had clear developmental and symbolic value: two of the three highest-selected players in the 2026 NBA draft, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer, met on the court. According to the official NBA.com report, Peterson finished the evening with 25 points and 12 assists and was the central figure in the Jazz’s victory, while Boozer scored 18 points for Memphis with seven rebounds and four assists. ESPN’s game summary listed the final score as 109:100, the location as Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, and the attendance as 8,991 spectators.

The game had a tempo and competitive tension that are not always associated with summer league, a competition in which the result and player development are often equally important. The Jazz controlled the key closing minutes, but did not have a secure lead until the fourth quarter. According to NBA.com, Utah won the first period 24:23, the second ended 29:29, and the third 24:23, meaning that the team from Salt Lake City entered the final ten minutes with only a two-point advantage. Only in the final quarter, which the Jazz won 32:25, did the home team pull away enough to confirm its second victory in as many appearances at the tournament.

Peterson’s evening: points, assists and control of the rhythm

According to NBA.com, Darryn Peterson led Utah with 25 points, 12 assists, three made three-pointers and two steals in a game that had been presented as a direct matchup of high draft picks. Such statistics are especially important in the context of summer league because they show not only the ability to create one’s own shot, but also the readiness to run the offense, create space for teammates and make decisions in possessions that decide the game. Peterson, according to the NBA’s live coverage of the event, emphasized after the matchup that his teammates made his job easier with good off-ball movement and timely openings. That statement described well the way the Jazz built their offense: through quick ball movement, attacks toward the rim and a sufficient number of open outside shots.

Peterson arrived in Salt Lake City as the second pick of the 2026 NBA draft, which, according to the official NBA.com draft results, was the position from which the Utah Jazz selected him after the Washington Wizards took AJ Dybantsa with the first pick. In the same NBA.com announcement, it is stated that the Memphis Grizzlies immediately afterward, from the third position, selected Cameron Boozer. Because of that, their first direct matchup in a professional setting received additional attention: it was not just one summer league game, but an early comparison of two players around whom their franchises could build longer-term plans.

For the Jazz, the most important thing was that Peterson did not stop at his individual impact. NBA.com pointed out that the strong play of Peterson and Cody Williams in the backcourt was enough for Utah to take control in the closing stages, while Williams added 18 points and eight rebounds. In games of this type, in which coaches often test combinations, more important than the number of points itself can be the question of whether a young playmaker can repeatedly make the right decisions under pressure. Peterson’s double-double evening therefore had value for Utah beyond a single victory: it was confirmation that a player from whom much is expected can simultaneously carry the offense and involve others.

Boozer showed efficiency, Memphis searched for an answer in the closing stretch

Cameron Boozer did not statistically outplay Peterson, but according to NBA.com he played a very efficient game: he finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. The NBA’s live coverage additionally emphasized that Boozer made four three-pointers and shot 6 of 9 from the field, which shows the breadth of his offensive repertoire. Memphis got in him a big man who can finish plays, stretch the floor and make decisions with the ball, and precisely those skills were the reason why his entry into the league was followed with great interest.

According to NBA.com, the Grizzlies’ top scorer was Cedric Coward with 23 points, although he shot 9 of 21 from the field. Olivier-Maxence Prosper added 16 points, and Javon Small 14 points and six assists, giving Memphis multiple sources of offensive contribution. Still, several details proved decisive in the final balance of power: Utah had greater efficiency from the field, better bench production and a better performance in the paint. According to the official NBA.com report, the Jazz had a 40:19 advantage in bench points and a 44:38 advantage in points in the paint.

The Grizzlies also failed to punish the Jazz’s mistakes more effectively. NBA.com states that Memphis scored only 15 points from Utah’s 13 turnovers, which in a close contest left too little room for a comeback. When the game entered the closing stretch, the Jazz found a balance between Peterson’s creation and the contributions of the rest of the rotation, while Memphis in some possessions was left with more difficult solutions. That does not diminish Boozer’s performance, but it shows how important the overall team structure is in summer league, even when public attention is directed toward the biggest talents.

The fourth quarter brought the decisive difference

According to the official NBA.com report, the game was close almost throughout, and Utah pulled away more seriously only in the later phase of the matchup. After three quarters, the difference was only two points, which left Memphis in a realistic position to turn the contest around. However, the Jazz accelerated the rhythm in the final period, used the depth of their rotation better and maintained enough shooting accuracy. The final plus-nine does not necessarily reflect how long the game remained open, but it does show well how Utah had a more stable offensive plan in the closing stretch.

An important element was shooting efficiency. NBA.com states that Utah made 51.4 percent of its field-goal attempts and 39.4 percent of its three-point attempts, while Memphis remained at 42 percent overall shooting and 33.3 percent from three. In a game in which there was no major difference in energy and physical approach, such numbers often decide the outcome. Utah had enough players who could finish possessions, and seven Jazz players finished the game with double-digit points, according to the NBA report.

The only concerning note for the Jazz was the injury to center Kylor Kelley, who, according to NBA.com, left the game and did not return to the floor. For summer league, in which players fight for minutes, contracts and positions in the rotation, such moments are especially sensitive because they can interrupt the rhythm of evaluation. At present, it is not clear from the available reports how serious the injury is. Utah, despite that, maintained control and closed the game in a way that further emphasized the difference between individual talent and broader team functionality.

The broader context of the Salt Lake City Summer League

The 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League is being held from July 4 to July 7, and according to NBA.com it includes Utah, Atlanta, Memphis and Oklahoma City. During the same period, the California Classic is also being played, while the central NBA Summer League in Las Vegas begins on July 9 and runs through July 19. That means the Utah Jazz - Memphis Grizzlies game was part of the opening phase of the NBA summer calendar, in which draft players, returnees from previous seasons and basketball players trying to earn a roster spot are followed especially closely.

For Utah, the victory also had significance in the standings. According to ESPN, after the game the Jazz had a 2-0 record in the Salt Lake City Summer League, while Memphis was at 1-1. Atlanta was also at 1-1, and Oklahoma City at 0-2. In practice, such standings do not carry the same weight as regular NBA season results, but they provide a framework for assessing the rhythm, depth and readiness of young squads. Utah showed in its first two appearances that it can create a sufficiently organized offense around Peterson, while Memphis can draw positive signs from the defeat through Boozer’s efficiency and the contribution of supporting players.

According to NBA.com, Peterson opened summer league with 28 points in the Jazz’s 103:102 overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Boozer, on the other hand, in Memphis’s first game was part of a team that defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111:74, which further increased expectations ahead of their head-to-head matchup. Because of that, the July 6 duel was not an isolated moment, but a continuation of a very early, yet already visible story about two rookies who will be followed both in Las Vegas and, much more importantly, in the continuation of their professional careers.

An early signal, not a final judgment

Summer league games often produce strong impressions, but caution is necessary. The level of offensive organization, the minutes of key players, defensive plans and opposing lineups differ significantly from what awaits players in the regular NBA season. Still, performances like Peterson’s have real value because they show how a young player handles expectations, media attention and a direct matchup with another highly ranked talent. In that sense, his 25 points and 12 assists are not only impressive statistics, but also a piece of information about the way he led the game.

For Boozer, the defeat does not change the broader picture. According to the NBA’s post-draft profile, Memphis sees him as a player with a high basketball IQ, leadership habits and the ability to influence the game in multiple ways. His performance against the Jazz was exactly that: efficient, versatile and mature enough for Memphis to draw positive conclusions from it, even without a victory. The Grizzlies lost the closing stretch, but they did not leave without confirmation that Boozer can be an important part of their future structure.

For Utah, however, the evening belonged to Peterson. The Jazz won the game, maintained an undefeated record in Salt Lake City and received the best individual performance of a matchup that drew attention because of the draft status of the two main actors. According to NBA.com, Peterson “outplayed” Boozer in the game of top draft picks, and the final impression was confirmed by both the numbers and the development of the contest. In the early phase of the summer of 2026, that is not a final verdict on careers, but it is a strong first signal: Utah saw in Salt Lake City a player who can simultaneously score, create and lead a team through a game.

Sources:
- NBA.com – official report from the Utah Jazz - Memphis Grizzlies 109:100 game, statistical overview and description of key moments (link)
- NBA.com – live event coverage and additional data on the performances of Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer in the Salt Lake City Summer League (link)
- ESPN – game summary, location, attendance and current team records in the Salt Lake City Summer League (link)
- NBA.com – official 2026 NBA draft results with the order of selections of Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer (link)
- NBA.com – schedule and dates of the 2026 Salt Lake City Summer League (link)
- NBA.com – announcement and framework of the broader 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (link)