Ebuka Okorie, the Pistons’ first-round draft pick, introduced to Detroit
The Detroit Pistons’ first-round draft pick averaged 23.2 points in 32 games as a freshman at Stanford.
Las Vegas — Steve Scalzi wants to secure as many wins as possible as the Pistons’ Summer League coach. Yet, he understands that the priority is to build a strong foundation that will support players in achieving success in their individual professional careers.
When it came to Chaz Lanier, Scalzi challenged the second-year guard to be more aggressive after his subpar performance against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Lanier accepted the challenge and had a performance that led to the Pistons securing a 103-94 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday at the Thomas and Mack Center.
“He was a microwave — that was awesome. He carried us early, and we love it when he is aggressive,” Scalzi said. “We ran a few more plays for him after we challenged him. He can really score.”
Lanier put on a show against the Cavaliers, scoring 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting, including seven 3-pointers. His final 3-pointer came with 3:32 remaining in the fourth quarter, which extended the Pistons’ lead to 92-81. His shot was crucial in halting Cleveland’s second-half rally after the Cavs had trailed by as many as 12 points.
Although Lanier came up huge down the stretch, his impressive first 10 minutes were not overshadowed. Lanier connected on his first basket at the 9:07 mark of the first quarter. At the time, it marked Lanier’s second 3-point field goal in Las Vegas. In the opener against the 76ers, he finished 1-for-6 from behind the arc.
“I just wanted to come out and be aggressive; do what I need to do for the team,” Lanier said. “As a shooter, you take the shots that are given to you by the defense, and you want to hunt your shot as well. You have to find a balance — just live and learn by the shots you take.”
Lanier went on to make his first three attempts from deep. By the end of the first quarter, he had scored 17 of Detroit’s 29 points, shooting 5-for-7 from beyond the 3-point line. His impressive performance during the period demonstrated coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s confidence in him and highlighted why the Pistons see him as a core part of their future.
By evaluating Lanier’s performance in the G League and in practice, Bickerstaff believes Lanier possesses the qualities to score 20-30 points as a movement shooter and off-ball threat. Lanier prioritized improving these skills during his second stint in the Summer League tournament. His performance against the Cavaliers served as a testament to his growth.
“There was a lot of space out there, and my teammates kept finding me,” Lanier said. “I just wanted to come in and be aggressive, take what the defense is giving me.”
As a whole, the Pistons made 16 3-pointers against the Cavaliers. In addition to Lanier, Brice Williams added 18 points while shooting 6-for-8 from deep.
Ebuka Okorie had another strong performance but struggled with his shot, scoring 14 points on 5-for-17 shooting. However, the most significant part of his impact came on the defensive end. Okorie notched seven steals, four of which occurred in the first half.
The Cavaliers were led by their second-round pick in last month’s draft, Meleek Thomas, who finished the game with 30 points.
Observations and notes
▶ Better performance for Onyenso: Lanier was not the only player to recover from a subpar performance three days ago. Ugonna Onyenso looked more at ease than in his Summer League debut and showcased his defensive potential against the Cavaliers. Onyenso led the team with five blocked shots, each an impressive highlight in its own right. His best block came late in the second quarter when he rejected Cavaliers forward Riley Minix’s dunk attempt.
Onyenso is entering the league as a below-average shooter but has the makings of becoming a respectable one. At the start of the second half, Onyenso nailed his only 3-point field goal of the day, which gave the Pistons a 61-49 lead. He also added five points.
▶ Gayle injured: Former Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. has been a standout player for the Pistons in their first two Summer League games. Against the Cavaliers, he scored 10 points and grabbed three rebounds, but he played only 11 minutes due to a left ankle injury sustained late in the third quarter. His status for Monday’s game against the New York Knicks is doubtful, as he left the arena with his ankle heavily iced.
▶ Harris thrilled to join Pistons: Gary Harris made his first appearance since being traded to the Pistons in a six-team deal on Tuesday. He sat courtside alongside Daniss Jenkins and Tolu Smith III and later expressed his excitement during an interview with ESPN. As a former Michigan State guard, Harris said he is looking forward to returning to Michigan and is eager to resume playing winning basketball after a disappointing season with the Milwaukee Bucks.
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