Ebuka Okorie exploded for a personal-high 27 points in his fifth Summer League game on Friday, but it was nowhere near enough to stop the Detroit Pistons from a brutal 101-87 loss to the Miami Heat, finishing their five-game slate at a miserable 1-4.
Okorie’s Fire Ignited, Then the Pistons Imploded
Okorie, the Pistons’ 2026 No. 17 overall pick, absolutely lit it up, hitting 8-for-19 overall from the field, 1-for-5 from deep, and a perfect 5-for-5 at the line. This guy played all five games, making him the first Pistons first-rounder since Marcus Sasser in 2023 to do that. He showed flashes, but the team still imploded. The Pistons actually led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter and were still up 78-75 with 6:26 left in the fourth. Then, after Okorie cut the deficit to 81-80 with 5:12 remaining, Miami unleashed a crushing 15-0 run that seized control. To make matters worse, Detroit’s Brice Williams, who put up 15 points, got hit with two technicals and a Flagrant-1, getting ejected with 2:52 left. Just a total meltdown, right?
A Glimmer of Hope: Okorie’s Mid-Game Surge and Lanier’s Hot Hand
Even with the collapse, Okorie’s performance was eye-popping at times. He’s been prone to slow starts, even shooting a rough 15-for-52 (28.8%) overall in Games 2-4. But once he found his rhythm, Miami literally had no answer. He scored 13 points in the final six minutes of the second quarter, capping a 12-0 Pistons run that extended their lead to 50-37. He was responsible for the final seven points of that run: a layup, a three-pointer, and a midrange pull-up on consecutive possessions. He scored or assisted 18 of the Pistons’ 28 points in that second period, including their final 14, helping build a 52-41 halftime lead. And when the Heat erased their 15-point deficit to take the lead in the fourth, Okorie answered with back-to-back baskets, extending the Pistons’ lead to 78-75 just before the unraveling.
Chaz Lanier, the 2025 second-round pick, also had a strong week. He closed with 11 points against the Heat, plus four assists and two steals. Lanier was scorching from deep, knocking down 15 of 24 three-point attempts in Games 2 and 3, and hitting 3-for-6 against Miami. Through his last four Vegas games, Lanier shot a ridiculous 56.4% overall (22-for-39) from beyond the arc. He even led the Pistons with four assists and zero turnovers in the finale.
So, the Pistons Summer League is in the books, ending with a tough 1-4 record. While the final loss stings, especially with that late collapse, seeing Okorie unleash his full arsenal and Lanier drain threes gives you something to cling to. Summer League is all about showing potential, and these guys definitely flashed it. We’ll be watching to see how they take these lessons and push their games forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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