NBA

Chaz Lanier nails 3s in Detroit Pistons Summer League win over Cavs

Chaz Lanier nails 3s in Detroit Pistons Summer League win over Cavs

LAS VEGAS The Detroit Pistons got their first win of the 2026 NBA Summer League schedule on Sunday, July 12, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 103-94.

They are 1-1 overall through two games, after dropping Thursday's opener against the Philadelphia 76ers.

It was a breakout performance from 2025 second-round pick Chaz Lanier, who led the Pistons with 25 points after hitting seven of 12 3-point attempts.

Motor City Cruise wing Brice Williams added 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting, and two-way forward Isaac Jones tallied 16 points and 10 rebounds.

2026 No.

17 overall pick Ebuka Okorie scored 14 points, with six assists and seven steals.

BUILDING SKILLS: Chaz Lanier ready to showcase growth with Detroit Pistons Chaz Lanier comes out swinging vs Cavaliers The Pistons' lone draft pick from last year finished with 12 points while shooting 1-for-6 from 3 in Thursday's Vegas debut.

The coaching staff wanted him to be aggressive on Sunday, and he obliged.

Lanier scored 17 of his 25 points in the first quarter, showcasing the quick trigger and range that made him a Pistons draft target.

He opened the game with back-to-back 3-pointers and followed with a layup, scoring the Pistons' first eight points.

After a 3-pointer from Williams, Lanier then score their next nine points on three straight 3-pointers.

The 24-year-old was responsible for 17 of the Pistons first 20 points, knocking down five of six 3s.

He cooled off afterward, missing his next three attempts before hitting his sixth midway through the third quarter.

But he helped the Pistons close out the victory, with his seventh 3 extending their lead to 92-81 late in the fourth quarter.

It was a needed performance from Lanier, who has worked on movement shooting this offseason in preparation for his second season.

Egbuka Okorie struggles offensively, stands out on defense After leading the Pistons with 20 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, Okorie wasnt able to find his groove Sunday.

He finished with 14 points on just 5-for-17 shooting while being harassed by the Cavaliers defense, as he wasnt able to convert several attempts at the rim.

Okorie fared better on defense, tallying seven steals.

He has quick hands and good anticipation, which allowed him to poke the ball away from opposing ballhandlers.

Through two games, he has nine steals.

The Pistons believe Okorie will be effective at applying full-court pressure in the NBA.

Sunday showed why they are high on him on that end of the floor.

EARLY RETURNS: Ebuka Okorie Summer League debut shows why Pistons were high on him Brice Williams shines from 3 A prolific scorer during his final season of college at Nebraska in 2024-25, Williams averaged 14.7 points per game with the Motor City Cruise last year.

He only hit 35.3% of his attempts from 3, but he was the Pistons best scorer other than Lanier on Sunday.

Williams only took 3-pointers and knocked down six of his eight attempts from the arc.

He found his rhythm in the second quarter, during which he knocked down three of them.

Standing 6-foot-7, he has good size for an NBA wing and shot 37.7% from 3 during his two seasons at Nebraska.

Next up for the Pistons: Knicks The Pistons (1-1 in Summer League play) return to action on Monday (4 p.m., Prime Video), facing the New York Knicks at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas.

The reigning champs' Summer League squad has been blown out in its two Vegas games, though first-round pick Pacome Dadiet (No.

25 overall) is averaging 16.5 points a game.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chaz Lanier nails 3s in Detroit Pistons Summer League win over Cavs.