This Ace Bailey kid just might be for real.

In his NBA preseason debut, matched up for much of the game against new Houston Rockets acquisition Kevin Durant, Bailey scored 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting, adding six rebounds, three assists, and two steals in his 31 minutes.

The Jazz, however, lost to the Rockets by a 140-127 score.

But for the team’s future, it was Bailey finding success from all over the court that stood out. He had four baskets around the rim, including a dunk. He hit five of his seven midrange shots, and went 2-for-5 from deep. In general, he moved decisively, catching the ball and swiftly getting into an action to keep the defense off balance.

Two moments stood out among Bailey’s highlights.

First, the rookie drove and used his stop-start athleticism to spin and ge

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