The Detroit Pistons got their first Summer League win in Las Vegas on Sunday, knocking off the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-94 to move to 1-1 after Thursday’s opening loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The biggest spark came from 2025 second-round pick Chaz Lanier, who turned in the kind of scoring burst that can change a game fast. The former Tennessee Volunteers guard finished with a team-high 25 points and buried seven 3-pointers on 12 attempts. He came out even hotter than he did in the opener, when he scored 12 points against Philadelphia, and 17 of his 25 Sunday points came in the first quarter as Detroit seized control early.
Lanier’s performance stood out even more because of the role he played during the regular season. In his rookie year with the Pistons this past year, he appeared in 34 games and averaged 2.4 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists. Now, with Summer League rolling on, he’s trying to keep building momentum heading into his second NBA season.
Detroit also got strong production from Brice Williams and Isaac Jones. Williams, a Motor City Cruise forward, scored 18 points while shooting 6-for-8. Jones, a Pistons two-way forward, added 16 points and 10 rebounds.
No. 17 overall pick Ebuka Okorie kept making his presence felt as well. After opening Summer League with 14 points and six assists against the 76ers, he followed that up with another solid outing against Cleveland. Okorie didn’t just contribute on offense; he also piled up seven steals, showing the same defensive impact he flashed in his debut.
The Pistons now turn to Monday’s matchup with the New York Knicks, set for 4:00 p.m. ET at the Cox Pavilion on Prime Video.
New York is still looking for its first Summer League victory after losses to the Brooklyn Nets and San Antonio Spurs. Detroit will also face the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.
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Huerters case is tied to health as much as role, since his first stretch in Detroit came while he was battling hip and adductor issues. Daniss Jenkins also gives the Pistons another backup point guard option, but the bigger question now is how much of the second-unit offense Huerter can shoulder once he is fully available. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Still Left Cade Cunningham With The Same Huge Question
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Pistons May Have One Unexpected Shot To Finally Help Cade
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Jonathan Kuminga fits that conversation better than most, even if Detroit has not been officially tied to him. The appeal is obvious enough - a young, talented wing who might be reachable on a prove-it arrangement, with a sign-and-trade as one possible route if the market develops that way. For a team still trying to find the right next step, the question is whether this is the rare swing worth taking. [Read more 🡒]