CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nearly two hours before Monday's game, new starting center Larry Nance Jr. worked up a sweat during an on-court workout.

Known for his endless energy, non-stop hustle, defensive impact and high-flying dunks, Nance spent a bulk of his pre-game workout hoisting 3-pointers from all around the arc. He's been spending extra time at Cleveland Clinic Courts doing the same after practices and shootarounds, trying to extend his shooting range for a team that is allowing -- even urging -- him to have confidence in that jumper.

#Cavs Larry Nance Jr. working on extending his range following shootaround. Has to make five at each spot before moving on pic.twitter.com/JHFFIp24xL — Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) February 27, 2018

"If they sag off me I will shoot it," Nance told cleveland.com prior to Monday's 112-90 win against the Detroit Pistons. "Obviously I'm not going to be K-Love with it or anything. But if they sag off me and don't respect me as a shooter I feel completely comfortable (making them pay) and shooting it now."

Hours later, Nance capped a career-high scoring night with an 18-foot jumper, giving him 20 points. He added two more free throws for a total of 22 points on 9-of-15 from the field to go with 15 rebounds in 32 minutes with his father watching courtside once again. Quite a first start with the Cavaliers.

Of his nine made baskets, three of them were mid-range jumpers, going 3-of-5 on shots outside the paint. Nance's newfound range gave the Cavaliers a different offensive look. It also left his head coach stunned.

"I didn't know he could shoot it," Tyronn Lue said. "He never shot it in L.A. But coming here, just watching him shoot, he has 3-point range also, which I didn't know. If he can continue to make that shot, it helps our offense out tremendously."

The Cavs have been seeking a consistent second scoring option with Love sidelined. They've also been starving for more production out of the oft-criticized starting lineup. Perhaps Nance is the answer to both.

He's averaging 11.3 points on 60.3 percent from the field since joining the Cavaliers on Feb. 8. He has reached double figures in six of the nine games.

To put that in perspective, Tristan Thompson, who is expected to sidelined for two weeks because of a swollen right ankle that had him sporting a walking boot in the locker room, has reached double figures scoring in just eight of 42 games this season.

It's not only Thompson's lack of scoring, but also the lack of gravity he creates and his unwillingness to take shots. Bigger defenders can sag off him, having little concern that he will make them pay. That helps opposing defenses close driving lanes and help on other more capable offensive threats. Any possession that includes him touching the ball outside the paint quickly bogs down, as Thompson won't even look at the rim unless it's late in the clock and he needs to fire away.

Thompson has other valuable skills, of course. He sets menacing screens and gives the team an abundance of second-chance opportunities. But there was a stark difference for the Cavs' offense with Nance starting in his place, one that will be tough for Lue to ignore when Thompson returns.

Nance's capable shooting stroke pulled bigs Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin away from the rim Monday night, creating room for LeBron James, Jordan Clarkson, George Hill and other players to attack. When Pistons duo didn't honor Nance's jumper, choosing to protect the paint instead, Nance made them pay repeatedly.

That skill, along with Nance's expertise in the screen-and-roll game and his ability finish at the rim with thunderous dunks when he gets a step on the defender or the opposition charges toward Cleveland's shooting threats, makes the defensive challenge even tougher.

"Keeps the opposing five man honest," James said. "That's all. (He) can't just sit in the lane and kind of muck up everything. It just keeps them honest and Larry's ability to make that 15-foot jump shot, and he's been working on his three as well, so I told him to keep taking them if they're going to keep leaving him open. It helps. It just gives us a little more spacing."

That's something the Cavs crave. It's been at the heart of their roster construction.

Nance's 3-pointer isn't game ready. He's made just 1-of-7 all season. He is 0-of-3 with the Cavs. As he said, he's not Love. Nor is he Channing Frye. But he's also more polished on offense than Thompson and that's more than enough for now -- giving the Cavs the versatility they thought had been lost when Frye was traded and Love went down with a broken bone in his left hand.

Nance admitted keeping the defense honest is tied to the number he makes from outside the paint. Respect in this league is earned. If he starts clanking jumpers, the space on offense will start to tighten.

Then again, if he keeps this up, it will be something else added to his scouting report -- an area in which teams will have to be aware. Right up there with all the other ways he impacts a game.

"I just haven't gotten a chance to show much of it," Nance said. "Whatever it was, I just wasn't that comfortable shooting them in L.A.. Whether it's the coaching staff or the guys, they have the utmost confidence in me shooting that shot and I feel great shooting it."