​After Detroit’s Summer League opener ended in a defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers three days earlier, the Pistons understood that changes were necessary. In that game, Chaz Lanier managed just 12 points on 4-for-11 shooting, and coach Steve Scalzi emphasized after the contest that he needed to do a better job of creating looks for his shooter. That resolve translated into action in their following encounter, a matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
From the opening minutes, Lanier showcased the shooting prowess that had previously allowed him to excel in brief stints in the G-League last season. He helped the Pistons jump start the scoring, tallying 17 of Detroit’s first 20 points in a dominant early burst on Sunday. By the final buzzer, Lanier had finished with 25 points, earning the distinction of the team’s top scorer and helping Detroit secure its first Las Vegas Summer League victory with a 103-94 win over Cleveland.
“I just wanted to come out, be aggressive, do what I had to do for the team,” Lanier said after the game. “Those are shots that I work on every day, so it was good to see them go in.” As soon as he saw a couple of his attempts drop, Lanier’s confidence seemed to grow exponentially, and he ended the game 7-for-12 from three-point range.
“As a shooter, you take the looks that are given to you pretty much by the defense, and then you want to hunt your shots as well,” Lanier explained. “So, you definitely have to find that balance. As a shooter, you’re also going to take some bad shots, so you just have to live and learn with the shots that you take.” Facing a Central Division rival in Cleveland, Detroit executed a markedly different script than in their opener. In the first game against Philadelphia, the Pistons had only a brief moment where they could tie the game before the 76ers pulled away; in this clash with the Cavaliers, Detroit was able to take the lead early and hold onto it for much of the contest, briefly allowing Cleveland to seize the advantage for only about a minute before reclaiming momentum.
“I feel like last game, they came out and hit us in the mouth first, so we wanted to be very intentional about coming out this game and throwing that first blow, and I feel like we did a great job doing that,” Lanier said.
Beyond Lanier’s impactful performance, Brice Williams delivered a strong showing from long range, knocking down six of nine three-point attempts to total 21 points for the G-Leaguer. The Pistons began their Summer League slate with a 101-93 loss to the 76ers, a game in which rookie point guard Ebuka Okorie flashed promise throughout. Yet, Okorie encountered more difficulty in his second pro outing, as the clock ticked toward triple zeros without the same late-game impact, signaling that while the rookie’s potential remains clear, he still has to navigate the adjustments that come with the faster pace and higher level of competition in this summer showcase.