Detroit Pistons in NBA Summer League on Sunday blew out the Houston Rockets, 98-83. Rookie Chaz Lanier stood out and Ron Holland drained two more 3s.
LAS VEGAS — The Detroit Pistons kept rolling in NBA Summer League on Sunday, July 13, blowing out the Houston Rockets, 98-83, to improve to 2-0 overall.
Daniss Jenkins led the team in scoring with 25 points (7-for-10 overall, 3-for-4 from 3, 6-for-6 at the foul line) and six assists. Tolu Smith had a double-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, and Ron Holland also tallied 15 points. Rookie second-round pick Chaz Lanier added 14 points.
The Pistons will return to action on Tuesday, July 15, against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Here are three observations that stood out from Sunday's Pistons win:
Chaz Lanier looks more comfortable in Game 2
The Pistons' lone 2025 draft pick had a quiet debut Friday — 10 points (on 4-for-11 overall shooting) and four assists. He only made two of his seven attempts from 3. The sharpshooter was the only player in the starting five unfamiliar with the system, and wasn't quite in-sync with the team's returnees from last season (Holland, Jenkins, Smith and Bobi Klintman).
Lanier looked much better Sunday, scoring eight points in the opening period. He calmly stepped into an open 3-pointer for his first bucket of the afternoon, and knocked down a second 3-pointer midway through the quarter to extend the lead to 17-7. He also showed off his touch inside, knocking down a midrange shot after pump-faking a 3-point attempt and stepping into space.
He didn't stuff the stat sheet, but Lanier looked closer to the elite spacer he was at Tennessee. He gets his shot off quickly and will continue to receive opportunities throughout the week.
Daniss Jenkins scoring for Pistons
The second-year guard drew the most "oohs and ahh" of any player on both teams. Jenkins scored 20 of his 23 points in the first half, putting together a reel of tough jumpers and inside finishes to help the Pistons get off to a dominant early start.
His best quarter was the second, hitting several key shots to fend off an 18-4 Rockets run that trimmed the Pistons' 16-point lead to two. Jenkins completed a four-point play after Reed Sheppard entered his airspace, drawing a Flagrant-1 foul, to snap Houston's momentum. A 3-point play followed after, with Jenkins stealing the inbounds pass and dunking through contact from Sheppard.
Another 3-point play at the end of the quarter extended a 22-9 Pistons run that put them firmly back in control. At halftime, the Pistons led by 17 points and never looked back. Jenkins has confidently stepped up as a go-to scorer for the Pistons through two games.
Ron Holland continues shooting with confidence
The second-year wing drilled two of his first there 3-point attempts — the first from the corner, the second in transition to push the Pistons' lead to 30-18. Holland missed his final three attempts, finishing 2-for-6 from 3.
He's 6-for-11 from 3 in Vegas thus far. Beyond shooting the ball, Holland also impressed on Sunday by dishing two alley-oops — one to Smith to open the game, and another to Klintman, both in the first quarter. He had two assists before his first shot attempt.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chaz Lanier looks comfortable, Pistons improve to 2-0 in Summer League
Category: Basketball
