Meleek Thomas did not waste his first real NBA chance.
After sitting out Cleveland’s first two regular-season games, the former Arkansas guard finally got on the floor Monday night and made his debut count in a 127-125 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Thomas scored 16 points, grabbed two rebounds and added one steal in his first NBA game, going 6-for-10 from the field and 4-for-5 from 3-point range.
That output put him third on the Cavaliers in scoring behind Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and it came in a game Cleveland had to claw back from a 15-point deficit. Anthony Edwards poured in 47 points for Minnesota, but Mitchell’s go-ahead jumper in overtime sealed the comeback and handed the Timberwolves their first loss of the season.
Thomas entered with 5:53 left in the first quarter and immediately gave Cleveland a lift. He scored eight points in the opening period and looked comfortable from the start, knocking down shots from deep and giving the Cavaliers another scoring option off the bench.
For a rookie making his first appearance in a regular-season NBA game, it was about as clean an introduction as he could have hoped for. His four made 3-pointers stood out in particular, especially for a Cavaliers team trying to develop young players while staying in the mix.
The NBA’s official draft profile pointed to Thomas’ quick release, shooting versatility and ability to work alongside a primary ball-handler, and that skill set fits a roster with Mitchell and Harden handling a lot of the offensive load. Monday’s performance showed that his college shooting can carry over.
He did it efficiently, too. Thomas needed only 10 field-goal attempts to get to 16 points, which made his night even more notable than a simple scoring line might suggest.
Thomas arrived in Cleveland after one season at Arkansas, where he became one of John Calipari’s most productive scorers. The Pittsburgh native averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in the 2025-26 season, while shooting 41.6% from 3-point range and 84.3% from the free-throw line. That production earned him SEC All-Freshman Team recognition.
He also had his moments when the pressure was highest. Thomas scored a career-high 30 points against Missouri in Arkansas’ regular-season finale and delivered several strong outings during the Razorbacks’ postseason run.
That scoring touch helped make him a second-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Cleveland selected him 34th overall after acquiring his draft rights from Sacramento.
His first two games in uniform came and went without him getting into action, but Monday gave him an early opening to prove he belonged. He responded with the kind of shot-making that made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place.
The bigger question now is what comes next. One hot night does not lock down a rotation spot, and Cleveland has veteran ball-handlers and creators ahead of him in the pecking order. Thomas will have to show he can defend at the NBA level, make quick decisions and stay useful even when the jumper cools off.
But he gave the Cavaliers plenty to think about. A young guard who can space the floor around established scorers is valuable, and Thomas showed he can do exactly that when the chance arrives.
After waiting for his first minutes, Meleek Thomas made the most of them.
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For Arkansas, it is another chance to make the rivalry feel a little more like home, even on the road. For Missouri, the jersey request was a way to add a little comfort and familiarity to a game that already comes with enough built-in tension. The scheduling and season context only heighten it, with each team looking at the matchup as more than just another late-year SEC date. [Read more 🡒]
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JJ Andrews Is Giving Arkansas Fans A Reason To Dream Big
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John Calipari has already made clear this team will need patience as it grows, and Andrews looks like the sort of freshman who could reward it. He has the tools to develop into a key player for Arkansas, but the more immediate question is how soon those flashes turn into something the Razorbacks can count on every night. If the early signs are any indication, there is at least a real foundation here for fans to dream on. [Read more 🡒]