2026 NBA Summer League: Pistons use long-range shooting to beat Cavaliers
Chaz Lanier knocks down seven 3s and the Pistons earn a 103-94 win over the Cavaliers in Summer League play Sunday.
Austin Remo, RotoWire
Updated on July 12, 2026 11:31 PM
The Pistons defeat the Cavaliers, 103-94, improving to 1-1 at the 2026 NBA Summer League.
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- 2026 Summer League Pistons 103, Cavaliers 94: Box Score | Game Detail
LAS VEGAS â Chaz Lanier dropped 25 points and a game-high seven 3-pointers to help the Detroit Pistons defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 103-94, on Sunday.
Lanier, the No. 37 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, scored 17 of Detroitâs first 20 points as they jumped out to a 20-12 lead in the opening frame. He finished 9-for-17 from the field with three rebounds, three assists and a game-best +18 plus-minus in nearly 30 minutes.
The Pistons led 29-21 after the first quarter and scored 30 points in the second, giving them a 59-49 advantage at halftime. Both teams struggled to take care of the rock, with the Pistonsâ 22 turnovers resulting in 31 points off for the Cavs, and Clevelandâs 17 miscues leading to a whopping 37 points for Detroit.
The Cavs capitalized on those mistakes in the third, as they outscored the Pistons 21-14 in the frame. Cleveland finished +18 in points in the paint (44-26).
Although the Cavaliers fought back to take their first lead of the second half with about six minutes left in the game, it was all Detroit from there through the sound of the buzzer. Lanier powered a 12-0 Pistonsâ run en route to a 92-81 lead with 3:17 on the clock, and they locked in for their first win of the summer.
The Pistons were hot from behind the arc, draining 16 of their 33 attempts from 3 (48.5%), but the Cavs connected on only nine of 28 attempts (32.1%).
Detroitâs Brice Williams went a cool 6-for-9 on 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, four rebounds and two assists. Isaac Jones had 16 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Ebuka Okorie, the No. 17 overall pick by Detroit, went off for 14 points, three boards, six assists and seven steals.
Meleek Thomas was a bright spot for the Cavaliers. The No. 34 pick in 2026 followed up his 20-point debut on Friday with a game-high 30 points, adding four rebounds, seven assists and four steals with two turnovers. NaeâQwan Tomlin did a bit of everything for Cleveland with 17 points, six boards, three dimes, one steal and four blocked shots. Malaki Branham chipped in 14 points, three rebounds and one steal.
Cleveland (0-2) and Detroit (1-1) are both back in action on Monday, as the Cavs take on the Miami Heat (8 ET, Prime Video) and the Pistons battle the New York Knicks (4 ET, Prime Video).
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