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Win or Go Home: Pistons and Spurs battle it out to get into the Summer League Playoffs

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The Detroit Pistons beat the San Antonio Spurs 79-73. It was a strong start for the Pistons as they scored 28 points in the first quarter (10 of those points off 5 turnovers). Pistons held on to the lead throughout the second quarter until the Spurs went on an 18-8 run to close it out and lead by 3 at halftime. The third quarter shows both teams going back and forth with the Spurs leading the entire time while the Pistons keeping the deficit within 4 or 5 points. The Spurs opened up the fourth quarter on a quick 4-0 run with the Pistons answering back with a 5-0 run. The Spurs maintained the lead until SG Malcolm Calazon hit a 3 to tie the game 69-69 at the 4:41 mark. PG Marcus Sasser then hit a floating jump shot and the Pistons take the lead for the first time since the second quarter. The game went down the wire and rookie prospect Ausar Thompson sealing the game by grabbing the offensive rebound off the missed free throw and sinking both free throws.

Overtime Elite Making a Statement

Although it was a back and forth game, it was Dominick Barlow and Ausar Thompson that put on a show for the Summer League crowd. Both players led their team in points and rebounds and finished with a double-double. Barlow put 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks on 66% shooting. Thompson put up 18 points and 14 rebounds on 50% shooting. It was a special night for both players as this was the first time two players from Overtime Elite went head to head in any type of NBA game and they did not disappoint. There were some highlight moments during the game, such as Thompson getting a putback dunk on Barlow. Despite neither team advancing to the Summer League semi-finals, it is safe to say that both teams have a lot of talented guys and some could make a splash in the league.

Barlow is NBA Ready

Dominick Barlow played for Overtime Elite in its inaugural season in 2021. He played for Team Overtime, averaging 14.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He shot 53% from the field and 36% from three. He then declared for the 2022 NBA draft, in which he would sign with the San Antonio Spurs on a two-way contract after going undrafted. He made his official NBA debut on November 2, 2022, making him the first player that came from Overtime Elite to appear in an NBA game. He also played for the G-League affiliate Austin Spurs, where he averaged 16.1 points per game on 55% shooting along with 8.3 rebounds. He rejoined the Spurs roster for the Summer League, in which he would average 17 points and 8.3 rebounds in 4 games. Barlow has showcased what he can do on both ends of the floor when it comes to playing the forward and center positions. With Spurs beginning their rebuild as Victor Wembanyama as the center piece, Barlow could become another young player that the team decides to add as he has shown that he built to play in the big league.

Is Ausar Thompson on the path to becoming one of the best two-way players?

It is hard to say Thompson’s presence was not felt when he dominated on both ends of the floor. There is a lot of talk about the numbers he put up, but not enough talk about his defensive effort. Going into the draft, scouts talked about his athleticism and defensive highlights when it comes to what stood him out from his twin brother Amen and why Detroit would be a good fit for him. He draws comparisons from Andrew Wiggins and Lebron James as he has also shown that he has great IQ and can dish out dimes to his teammates. Malcolm Cazalon, one of his Summer League teammates, had this to say when asked about what the most impressive thing was about playing alongside Thompson “He’s going to be rookie of the year. You’ll see that! I’d bet that.” This latest draft class has a lot of talented players ready to step on the NBA court, and Thompson has shown the world that he is NBA ready. With the way he can score and lock down perimeter shooters, he can showcase his way into being one of the best two-way players in the league and that is just what Detroit needs.

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