LAS VEGAS — The San Antonio Spurs are still competing in Las Vegas Summer League, continuing to learn and grow in the exhibition for young talent.
The Spurs face Washington on Tuesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center, though they're without the top pick in the last draft. Victor Wembanyama is done in the desert after dominating his second game, but other young players like Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley, Julian Champagnie, Dom Barlow, and Sidy Cissoko are looking to make their mark and hone their craft. And Wemby is there to watch, and learn, and be a supportive teammate.
The Summer Spurs looked dangerous even before Wemby arrived, winning their first two games in Sacramento by double digits without him. They won their first game in Vegas as well even though it was a poor shooting night from the rookie in his debut, and they lost the second game despite his 27 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks in the bounce back a few days later.
Second-year big man Dominick Barlow was always bouncy on both ends, but through four games he's shown surprising smoothness shooting from the mid-range.
Barlow started off the game against Washington showing off the polish and jumper he lacked completely as a rookie last season, scoring 7 of the first 8 points for San Antonio. He started by crossing into a free throw-line jumper that he swished.
Cissoko, a second-round pick in this year's draft, defends like a dog and find his teammates like an artistic guard at 6'8". He missed his first few shots, but he threw a sweet little behind-the-back dime to Barlow and picked off a pass in transition.
Champagnie has been making the four year, $12 million contract he agreed to this summer look like a bargain, shooting the lights out and scoring 20+ in the first three games. Champagnie knocked down a three, which has been his most NBA-ready skill as a Spur, but he also assisted on a few buckets.
Charles Bediako won't make the full roster, but he made a couple of high level plays on both ends of the floor.
Wesley said that he's working on his decision-making skills, and all the reps he's getting as the starting point guard should help. He ran a pick and roll going to his left, bursting between defenders and using his long arms to finish through physical defense at the rim.
Branham came in looking like one of the steals of last year's draft, but he'll be hoping to atone after shooting just 1-17 from the floor in the most recent loss. He hit a triple off a feed from Wesley, then finished the second half with a pair of tough buckets. He drove and floated one in, then posted up and faded away yo beat the halftime buzzer.
San Antonio went into the locker room with the score knotted at 46.
Wesley knocked down a three to start the second half, then Branham followed it up with his own. Wesley hit the brakes in transition, then kicked out to Branham who hesitated to freeze the defense as he knifed his way to the rim. Champagnie lobbed it to Branham for a finish in transition.
Cissoko threw a no-look dime from the top of the key to a teammate under the basket who wasn't quite ready for it. On the next play in transition, he went no-look again and his teammate finished this time.
Branham hit a closely-contested jumper in tight, then fell hard while attempting a poster dunk through contact. It didn't seem to bother him, though. He pumped at the arc, stepped t the side and swished a triple, then knocked down another in transition. He drove his way in for another bucket, giving him 29 on the night.
Wesley attacked a loose dribble and stripped it for an easy dunk the other way. Champagnie drove hard for a pair of big layups.
The Spurs closed out the win 96-85, and Branham led four in double figures with 29.
San Antonio will play again on Friday night against the Pistons.