Starting 5 Daily Newsletter
Starting 5: Peterson & Boozer put on a show, Cali Classic concludes, Salt Lake City finale tonight
Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer duel in Utah, Kings finish Cali Classic 3-0, Salt Lake City Summer League wraps up tonight.
NBA.com Staff | July 7, 2026 5:12 PM
Bucket-getter. Playmaker. Game-closer. In just two Summer League games, Darryn Peterson is already showing why he was the No. 2 overall pick.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀 | July 7, 2026
- Salt Lake Shine: Peterson & Boozer go off in epic duel, Hawks storm back behind Ejiofor
- Cali Classic In Sacramento: Acuff Jr. erupts as Kings finish unbeaten, Dëmin & Brown Jr. boost Nets
- Cali Classic In SF: Conwell catches fire for Heat, Lakers edge Spurs to close Cali Classic
- Tonight In Utah: Boozer faces more standout rooks, Peterson and Jazz chase 3-0
- Monday Moves: More offseason reports, plus official deals with the signing period underway
BUT FIRST … ⏰ The Salt Lake City Summer League concludes tonight with a pair of games on Prime, NBA TV and ESPNU, as the Hawks face the Grizzlies (7 ET) before the Jazz and Thunder square off (9 ET).
Up Next, Vegas: The 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, featuring all 30 NBA teams, tips off Thursday with a seven-game slate, including a potential matchup between this year’s top two picks, as AJ Dybantsa and the Wizards face Darryn Peterson and the Jazz (9 ET, ESPN). The PlayStation NBA Creator Cup also tips off Thursday in Vegas (8:30 PT), bringing together viral stars and some of the biggest digital creators in the hoops world for a unique 5v5 showdown.
1. SALT LAKE SIZZLE: PETERSON LIFTS UTAH, EJIOFOR SPARKS ATLANTA
Chris Gardner/NBAE via Getty Images
Why were NBA scouts and executives so excited about this year’s Draft class? Last night in Salt Lake City, No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson and No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer helped answer that question.
Jazz 109, Grizzlies 100: Peterson’s shot-making (game-high 25 pts) and playmaking (game-high 12 ast) were on full display, while Boozer answered with a complete performance (18 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast). But Peterson and Utah were too much in the end, as the Jazz pulled away late to move to 2-0. | Recap
- Early Fire: Peterson opened the game with Utah’s first nine points, including a tough fallaway 3 with a hand in his face
- Early Exchange: On the other end, Boozer showed off his range, trading buckets with Peterson in the opening minutes
- Shot For Shot: It set the stage for a game that featured 10 ties and 22 lead changes, with Boozer (6-9 fg, 4 3s) and Peterson (8-15 fg, 3 3s) going back and forth, before Utah pulled away late with a 29-20 closing run
- The Closer? Peterson, who nailed a timely triple with 1:36 left to push the lead to seven – an edge Utah never relinquished
- Young Rook, No Fear: Peterson has opened Summer League with back-to-back 25+ point games. Both resulted in wins, and both saw Peterson hit key 3s in clutch time, as he drilled a tiebreaking triple with 1:16 left in OT on Saturday to push Utah past the Hawks.
“I say it all the time, I’m a Kobe guy,” said Peterson postgame of his clutch buckets. “That’s what he did. So anytime I can assert dominance, I try to. So at the end of games, I try to kill.”
Also In Rhythm: Cody Williams (18 pts, 8 reb) and Blake Hinson (15 pts, 4 3s) combined for 33 more for Utah, while sophomore Cedric Coward paced Memphis (23 pts, 3 blk)
Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images
Peterson and Boozer weren’t the only rookies shining in Salt Lake City.
Hawks 82, Thunder 77: This year’s No. 23 overall pick, Zuby Ejiofor, was a force for Atlanta (19 pts, 15 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk), willing the Hawks back from 20 points down to top Payton Sandfort (25 pts, 4 3s, 4 reb) and OKC. | Recap
- Doing It All: Ejiofor – who earned Big East Player of the Year at St. John’s last season – added six offensive boards, sunk three triples and survived one postgame interview sneak attack
- Flemings Finder: Atlanta’s No. 8 overall pick, Kingston Flemings (12 pts, 5 ast, 3 blk), showed off his vision, finding Keshon Gilbert and Ejiofor for back-to-back treys
- Rookie Connection: OKC’s No. 12 pick, Aday Mara (10 pts, 9 reb, 4 blk), flashed his footwork with a slick bucket, before throwing down a lob from fellow rookie Bennett Stirtz (9 pts, 3 ast)
2. CALI CLASSIC IN SACRAMENTO: KINGS GO 3-0, YOUNG NETS POP
The California Classic wrapped up with four games Monday, capped by the Kings closing out their host duties with a perfect 3-0 record – and another standout showing from their top pick. | Final California Classic Standings
Kings 95, Bucks 89: It only took Darius Acuff Jr. 34 seconds to sink his first shot, and the No. 7 overall pick never looked back, pouring in 22 points while adding 3 dimes, 2 blocks and a steal to power Sacramento past the Bucks. | Recap
- Acuff On Ice: Acuff Jr. went 4-of-9 from 3, capped by a dagger trey with 23 ticks left to extend a three-point lead to six
- Cooking Rook: In two Summer League games, Acuff Jr. has averaged 23.5 points – the most of any player at the California Classic
- Bucks Shine: Zack Austin led Milwaukee with 17 points, while No. 10 overall pick Brayden Burries scored 12 and added 2 boards
Also in Sacramento: more Lottery talent on display.
Nets 100, Warriors Blue 79: Brooklyn’s No. 8 pick from 2025, Egor Dëmin, was in full control (23 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast), while its No. 6 pick from this year, Mikel Brown Jr., flashed in his debut (10 pts, 4 ast, 2 3s), propelling the Nets to a big win. | Recap
- “Where’s The Toast?!”: Brown, a 20-year-old guard out of Louisville, showed off his shake with a nasty dime that had announcer Mark Jones fired up
3. CALI CLASSIC IN SF: HEAT & LAKERS FINISH WITH DUBS
While Mikel Brown Jr. turned heads in Sacramento, his former Louisville co-star, Ryan Conwell, turned up in San Francisco.
Heat 95, Warriors Gold 85: Conwell caught fire for a game-high 26 points, going 8-of-14 from the field and 4-of-9 from 3 as the Heat earned a wire-to-wire win over Lachlan Olbrich (21 pts, 7-7 FG) and Warriors Gold. | Recap
- Up, Up & Away: Conwell, this year’s No. 37 overall pick, added 4 dimes, including a feed that set up a monster one-handed slam from Tre White (16 pts, 4 reb)
- Clear For Takeoff: Rookie KJ Adams also took flight for Golden State, elevating for a big-time lob
Lachlan Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images
Lakers 88, Spurs 84: Undrafted sophomore guard Chris Mañon went off for the Lakers (24 pts, 8 reb, 2 stl, 3 blk) and Arthur Kaluma added 16 points as Los Angeles edged San Antonio to finish the Cali Classic 2-1. | Recap
- Making His Mark: Mañon, a two-way player with the Lakers last season, shot 7-of-10 from the floor and sealed the game late at the line
- Young Spurs: San Antonio rookies Ja’Kobi Gillespie (19 pts, 6 ast) and Tarris Reed Jr. (12 pts, 12 reb) combined for 31 points, while sophomore R.J. Davis added 18 points
4. TONIGHT: SALT LAKE CITY SUMMER LEAGUE WRAPS UP
Chris Nicoll + Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images
The Salt Lake City Summer League concludes tonight with a pair of marquee matchups on the national stage.
Hawks vs. Grizzlies (7 ET, Prime/NBA TV/ESPNU): Both 1-1, Memphis and Atlanta will look to leave Utah with another win before they head to Vegas, with rookie standouts leading the charge on both sides.
- Boozer Groove: Cam Boozer has delivered for Memphis thus far, not only posting big numbers (16.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4 apg) but stretching the floor with a 5-of-8 mark from 3 (62.5%)
- Young Hawks: On the other side, No. 8 overall pick Kingston Flemings has showcased his playmaking for Atlanta (13 ppg, 7 apg), while Zuby Ejiofor has averaged a double-double (13.5 ppg, 13 rpg)
- Protect The Nest: Flemings (2.5 stl, 1.5 blk) and Ejiofor (1.5 stl) – also the reigning Big East DPOY – have also flashed defensively, adding an edge to an Atlanta team that finished 18th in scoring defense last season
Melissa Majchrzak + Chris Gardner/NBAE via Getty Images
Thunder vs. Jazz (9 ET, Prime/NBA TV/ESPNU): On Saturday, Darryn Peterson scored 28 points. On Monday, he dropped 25 and 12 dimes, leading the Jazz to another win. What will the No. 2 pick have in store tonight as Utah looks to close the SLC Summer League at 3-0?
- Complete Package: Peterson’s three-level scoring was on full display Monday, hitting three 3s while going 5-of-6 from shots inside the arc, including a string of midrange buckets
- Adding To It? His playmaking, a skill Peterson said he wanted to show off more at the NBA level. On Monday, he did just that, scoring or assisting on 55 of Utah’s 109 points, while committing just two turnovers
- Thunder Boost: On the other side, OKC’s No. 12 pick, Aday Mara, has showcased his interior touch (10 ppg) while protecting the rim at the other end with six blocks in two games. Can Mara and OKC slow down Peterson?
5. FREE AGENCY: MONDAY MOVES & OFFICIAL DEALS
Maddie Meyer/NBAE via Getty Images
After a busy week of free agent negotiations, the NBA’s official signing period began Monday, allowing teams to finalize previously reported agreements and trades. See some of the notable official deals below.
- Official: Celtics trade Jaylen Brown to 76ers for Paul George and Draft picks
- Official: Heat acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis in trade with Bucks for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis and Draft picks
- Official: Coby White, Hornets agree to 3-year deal
- Official: Anfernee Simons, 76ers agree to deal (reported 2 years)
- Official: Hawks acquire Aaron Wiggins in trade with Thunder for Draft picks
Beyond the official signings, Monday also featured a trio of notable reports from around the league.
- Report: Kings release DeMar DeRozan, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent
- Report: Rui Hachimura, Clippers agree to 2-year deal
- Report: Warriors restricted free agent Quinten Post to sign 3-year offer sheet with Grizzlies
Want to keep up with every move? Check out these offseason trackers:
- Free Agency Hub: Your home for the latest in free agency
- Offseason By Team: Every move, report and official deal for all 30 squads
- Trade Tracker: All the official offseason swaps in one spot
- Full Free Agent Tracker: Every name, every report, every official deal
Related
- Live Updates: Thunder face Jazz in Salt Lake City — Tap in with the NBA.com live blog as the Salt Lake City Summer League continues on the ESPN family of networks and Prime Video.
- Recap: 2026 California Classic — Enjoy the NBA.com live blog from the 2026 California Classic, which opened the 2026 NBA Summer League.
- 2026 NBA Summer League: Facts & Figures — A closer look at 2026 NBA Summer League which will be played July 9-19 in Las Vegas.
- NBA Summer League History: Champions and MVPs — A history of all NBA Summer League champions from 2013 to the present.