Ebuka Okorie erupts despite Detroit Pistons Summer League collapse

A strong effort from Ebuka Okorie wasn’t enough to prevent the Detroit Pistons from finishing Summer League on a sour note.

The rookie guard set a personal high in his fifth game in Las Vegas, with 27 points (8-for-19 overall, 1-for-5 from 3, 5-for-5 at the line). But the Pistons fell to the Miami Heat in their final exhibition, 101-87, on Friday, July 17, to finish their five-game slate at 1-4.

The Pistons led by as many as 15 in the third quarter, and 78-75 with 6:26 remaining in the fourth quarter. After Okorie cut the Pistons’ deficit to one, 81-80, at the 5:12 mark, the Heat unleashed a 15-0 run to take decisive control.

Here’s a look at the reshaped Eastern Conference. The following ranking with odds to win the East in 2026-27 is based on MGM Sportsbook odds as of July 3. Rookie first-round picks listed with draft pick slot.

<1 / 16

Here’s a look at the reshaped Eastern Conference. The following ranking with odds to win the East in 2026-27 is based on MGM Sportsbook odds as of July 3. Rookie first-round picks listed with draft pick slot.

<2 / 16

1. New York Knicks, +325 (3.25-1)

Lost: Mitchell Robinson, Ariel Hukporti

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Jalen Brunson

• SG: Mikal Bridges

• SF: Josh Hart

• PF: OG Anunoby

• C: Karl-Anthony Towns

• Key reserves: Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, Jose Alvarado, Andre Drummond

Key reserves: Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, Jose Alvarado, Andre Drummond

<3 / 16

2. Boston Celtics, +450

• Added: Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, Mike Conley Jr., Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 27)

• Lost: Jaylen Brown, Nikola Vučević

Added: Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, Mike Conley Jr., Chris Cenac Jr. (No. 27)

Lost: Jaylen Brown, Nikola Vučević

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Payton Pritchard

• SG: Derrick White

• SF: Paul George

• PF: Jayson Tatum

• C: Neemias Queta

• Key reserves: Mitchell Robinson, Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, Hugo González

Key reserves: Mitchell Robinson, Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, Hugo González

<4 / 16

3. Philadelphia 76ers, +700

• Added: Jaylen Brown, Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Ariel Hukporti, Labaron Philon Jr. (No. 22)

• Lost: Paul George, Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond

Added: Jaylen Brown, Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Ariel Hukporti, Labaron Philon Jr. (No. 22)

Lost: Paul George, Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Tyrese Maxey

• SG: VJ Edgecombe

• SF: Jaylen Brown

• PF: Dean Wade

• C: Joel Embiid

• Key reserves: Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon Jr., Dominick Barlow, Justin Edwards

Key reserves: Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon Jr., Dominick Barlow, Justin Edwards

<5 / 16

4. Detroit Pistons, +750

• Added: John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Ebuka Okorie (No. 17)

• Lost: Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart

Added: John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Ebuka Okorie (No. 17)

Lost: Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart

Projected starting lineup and bench

C: Jalen Duren (assuming a re-signing)

Key reserves: Daniss Jenkins, Isaiah Joe, Paul Reed, Ron Holland, Kevin Huerter, Javonte Green, Caris LeVert

<6 / 16

5. Toronto Raptors, +800

• Added: Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Anderson, Allen Graves (No. 19)

• Lost: Brandon Ingram, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Gradey Dick

Added: Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Anderson, Allen Graves (No. 19)

Lost: Brandon Ingram, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Gradey Dick

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Immanuel Quickley

• SG: RJ Barrett

• SF: Kawhi Leonard

• PF: Scottie Barnes

• C: Jakob Poeltl

• Key reserves: Collin Murray-Boyles, Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Kyle Anderson, Allen Graves

Key reserves: Collin Murray-Boyles, Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Kyle Anderson, Allen Graves

<7 / 16

6. Miami Heat, +850

• Added: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Tim Hardaway Jr.

• Lost: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Norman Powell, Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis

Added: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Tim Hardaway Jr.

Lost: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Norman Powell, Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Davion Mitchell

• SG: Pelle Larsson

• SF: Andrew Wiggins

• PF: Bam Adebayo

• C: Giannis Antetokounmpo

• Key reserves: Tim Hardaway Jr., Bobby Portis, Nikola Jović, Simone Fontecchio

Key reserves: Tim Hardaway Jr., Bobby Portis, Nikola Jović, Simone Fontecchio

<8 / 16

7. Cleveland Cavaliers, +900

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: James Harden

• SG: Donovan Mitchell

• SF: Max Strus

• PF: Evan Mobley

• C: Jarrett Allen

• Key reserves: Sam Merrill, Dennis Schröder, Jaylon Tyson, Thomas Bryant

Key reserves: Sam Merrill, Dennis Schröder, Jaylon Tyson, Thomas Bryant

<9 / 16

8. Indiana Pacers, 16-1

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Tyrese Haliburton

• SG: Andrew Nembhard

• SF: Aaron Nesmith

• PF: Pascal Siakam

• C: Ivica Zubac

• Key reserves: T.J. McConnell, Kelly Oubre Jr., Obi Toppin, Jarace Walker

Key reserves: T.J. McConnell, Kelly Oubre Jr., Obi Toppin, Jarace Walker

<10 / 16

9. Atlanta Hawks, 25-1

Adding: Kingston Flemings (No. 8), Zuby Ejiofor (No. 23)

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: CJ McCollum

• SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker

• SF: Dyson Daniels

• PF: Jalen Johnson

• C: Onyeka Okongwu

• Key reserves: Kingston Flemings, Zaccharie Risacher, Jock Landale, Mouhamed Gueye

Key reserves: Kingston Flemings, Zaccharie Risacher, Jock Landale, Mouhamed Gueye

<11 / 16

10. Orlando Magic, 30-1

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Jalen Suggs

• SG: Desmond Bane

• SF: Franz Wagner

• PF: Paolo Banchero

• C: Wendell Carter Jr.

• Key reserves: Anthony Black, Jamal Cain, Tristan da Silva, Goga Bitadze

Key reserves: Anthony Black, Jamal Cain, Tristan da Silva, Goga Bitadze

<12 / 16

11. Charlotte Hornets, 30-1

• Adding: Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith, Hannes Steinbach (No. 14), Christian Anderson Jr. (No. 18)

• Losing: LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Josh Green

Adding: Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith, Hannes Steinbach (No. 14), Christian Anderson Jr. (No. 18)

Losing: LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Josh Green

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Coby White

• SG: Kon Knueppel

• SF: Brandon Miller

• PF: Naz Reid

• C: Moussa Diabaté

• Key reserves: Grayson Allen, Sion James, Royce O’Neale, Grant Williams, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Hannes Steinbach, Christian Anderson Jr.

Key reserves: Grayson Allen, Sion James, Royce O’Neale, Grant Williams, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Hannes Steinbach, Christian Anderson Jr.

<13 / 16

12. Washington Wizards, 60-1

Adding: Deandre Ayton, AJ Dybantsa (No. 1)

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Trae Young

• SG: Kyshawn George

• SF: AJ Dybantsa

• PF: Anthony Davis

• C: Alex Sarr

• Key reserves: Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, Deandre Ayton, Bilal Coulibaly, Will Riley

Key reserves: Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, Deandre Ayton, Bilal Coulibaly, Will Riley

<14 / 16

13. Milwaukee Bucks, 400-1

• Adding: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, Brayden Burries (No. 10), Nate Ament (No. 13)

• Losing: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis

Adding: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, Brayden Burries (No. 10), Nate Ament (No. 13)

Losing: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Ryan Rollins

• SG: Tyler Herro

• SF: Jaime Jaquez Jr.

• PF: Kyle Kuzma

• C: Myles Turner

• Key reserves: Brayden Burries, A.J. Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, Nate Ament

Key reserves: Brayden Burries, A.J. Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, Nate Ament

<15 / 16

14. Chicago Bulls, 400-1

• Adding: Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, Caleb Wilson (No. 4), Dailyn Swain (No. 15)

• Losing: Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons

Adding: Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, Caleb Wilson (No. 4), Dailyn Swain (No. 15)

Losing: Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Josh Giddey

• SG: Norman Powell

• SF: Matas Buzelis

• PF: Caleb Wilson

• C: Nic Claxton

• Key reserves: Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, Tre Jones, Jalen Smith, Dailyn Swain

Key reserves: Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, Tre Jones, Jalen Smith, Dailyn Swain

<16 / 16

15. Brooklyn Nets, 400-1

• Adding: Julius Randle, Keon Ellis, Moritz Wagner, Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 6), Joshua Jefferson (No. 28)

• Losing: Nic Claxton

Adding: Julius Randle, Keon Ellis, Moritz Wagner, Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 6), Joshua Jefferson (No. 28)

Projected starting lineup and bench

• PG: Mikel Brown Jr.

• SG: Egor Demin

• SF: Michael Porter Jr.

• PF: Julius Randle

• C: Day’Ron Sharpe

• Key reserves: Keon Ellis, Noah Clowney, Terance Mann, Ben Saraf, Nolan Traoré

Key reserves: Keon Ellis, Noah Clowney, Terance Mann, Ben Saraf, Nolan Traoré

Detroit’s Brice Williams, who finished with 15 points, was whistled for two technical fouls and a Flagrant-1, and was ejected with 2:52 remaining. 2025 second-round pick Chaz Lanier also scored in double figures with 11 points and added four assists and two steals.

It’s customary for NBA teams to shut down their first-round draft picks and experienced players by the final game in Vegas. But the Pistons stuck with the group that started the first game – Okorie, Lanier, Williams, two-way player Isaac Jones and 2026 second-round pick Ugonna Onyenso. Their 2026 No. 17 overall pick, Okorie, is the first Pistons first-rounder to play all five games since Marcus Sasser in 2023.

Okorie scored 13 points in the final six minutes of the second quarter and capped a 12-0 Pistons run late in the first half, extending their lead to 50-37. The 6-foot-1 guard was responsible for the final seven points of the run – driving inside for a layup, knocking down a 3-pointer and pulling up from midrange on consecutive possessions.

In total, Okorie scored or assisted 18 of the Pistons’ 28 points in the second period, including their final 14. After missing five of his first six shots, he settled into a groove and was the main reason the Pistons were able to build a double-digit lead at halftime, 52-41.

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After the Heat closed a 15-point deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter, Okorie answered with back-to-back baskets – a push shot just inside the free throw line, followed by a nifty finish where he drove down the middle with his left, lost his defender with a hesitation and finished with his right, extending their lead to 78-75.

The rookie has been prone to slow starts during summer league and shot just 15-for-52 (28.8%) overall in Games 2-4. But Miami had no answer for Okorie once he got rolling, and he showed off his full arsenal of hesitations, jukes and speedy takeoffs, as well as his knack for drawing contract.

It has been a strong week for Lanier, who knocked down a scorching 15 of his 24 3-point attempts in Games 2 and 3, and hit four of nine in Wednesday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns. The 24-year-old closed with another accurate night on Friday, going 3-for-6 from deep and strengthening his claim as one of the best shooters on the roster.

Through his last four games in Vegas, Lanier shot 56.4% overall (22-for-39) from beyond the arc. He also led the Pistons on Friday with four assists and no turnovers, routinely finding teammates on time during cuts.

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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X and/or Bluesky.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ebuka Okorie erupts despite Detroit Pistons Summer League collapse

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