NBA 2K23 Summer League kicked off Thursday night with a matchup between Orlando's Paolo Banchero and Houston's Jabari Smith Jr., the No. 1 and No. 3 picks, respectively, in last month's NBA draft.
The Magic won 91-77 in the first meeting between two of the NBA's most anticipated rookies, with Banchero notching 17 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists. Smith had a quieter night in his Rockets debut, finishing with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
No. 5 overall pick Jaden Ivey made his debut with the Detroit Pistons, scoring a team-high 20 points en route to an 81-78 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.