The Jazz are 1-9, and the sharpest thing in their recent record is Darryn Peterson. Sports Illustrated reports that the No. 2 pick scored 21 against Dallas on Friday, then 26 against Minnesota this past Sunday, shooting 51% from the field, 46% from three and 100% from the line across those two games.
The context matters. Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Keyonte George have all been sidelined by injuries, which leaves Peterson absorbing the ball and the toughest wing defenders most nights. His overall field-goal percentage is only 39%, but much of that comes from guard-style shot creation off the dribble and off the catch while he is being doubled. The report's read is that he has been improving every night.
The team numbers point the same way. With Peterson on the floor, Utah is reported to score 2.2 points per possession better on offense and allow 3.7 fewer per possession on defense. He is also leading the Jazz in deflections and already has more blocks than fellow rookies Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybansta, per the same report. The next lever is free throws, which he has not yet been getting at a high rate.
The bigger question is whether this becomes a habit rather than a stretch with the roster depleted. Utah drafted him as potentially the face of the franchise long term, and the report points to the upcoming game against the Heat, with George, Jackson and Markkanen all out, as the chance for Peterson to take another step. For a rookie on a losing team, that is the real test: whether the scoring and defensive activity hold when the spotlight is fully his.
