4 exhilarating takeaways from the Spurs' finale at the California Classic

The Continued Growth of Barlow

Dominick Barlow has been one of the more pleasant surprises through two games. He recorded a 24-point and 10-rebound double-double against Charlotte, protecting the rim with two blocks. He rolled to the rim and fired a handful of spot-up jumpers from midrange, going 6-of-6 from outside the paint in his first matchup. He also showed off uncanny mobility for his 6-foot-11 frame, effectively guarding Brandon Miller and causing all sorts of chaos for the Hornets.

While Barlow was limited to only three points against the Lakers on Wednesday, that didn't stop him from having an impact on the final score. He maintained his defensive intensity, staying in front of his assignments, blocking three shots, and snatching a steal. Offensively, he set his teammates up for success, dishing the ball out for six assists. He also secured six rebounds, with four of them coming on the offensive glass.

The undrafted big man out of Overtime Elite will continue to have more chances to impress in Las Vegas when paired with Wembanyama. The idea of that defensive-minded frontcourt locking down the paint should make opposing teams second-guess their offensive game plans.