The Cavaliers wrapped up Summer League with a 100-91 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday, and the finish left them at 3-2 in Las Vegas. Before that, Cleveland had already beaten the Miami Heat and the New Orleans Pelicans, giving the group a solid run overall.
The biggest reason for the attention around the Cavs was Meleek Thomas. Cleveland’s last draft pick made a strong case for himself across the five games, showing exactly why fans came away intrigued by his game.
Thomas opened with 20 points in the loss to the Indiana Pacers, adding five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Nae'Qwan Tomlin also scored 20, while Malaki Branham finished with 15 and Riley Minix added 10. Even in defeat, Thomas kept Cleveland within striking distance by scoring 10 of his points in the fourth quarter as the Cavs tried to erase a big Indiana lead.
His next outing was even louder. Against the Detroit Pistons, Thomas put up 30 points, seven assists, four rebounds and four steals, though Detroit still came away with the win.
Then came his best scoring night. In Cleveland’s 90-73 victory over the Heat, Thomas poured in 35 points and knocked down five three-pointers. He was efficient, he was aggressive, and he helped the Cavs control the game from start to finish.
After sitting out the Pelicans game, Thomas returned against Chicago and posted 24 points, two rebounds and two assists. Cleveland was sharp in that one too, with four other players reaching double figures.
For the Cavaliers, the Summer League run ended on a positive note. For Thomas, it ended with a clear message: the second-round pick can score, can fill up a stat sheet, and looks like a player Cleveland can keep developing. He might not see major minutes right away, but what he did in Las Vegas showed he’ll be ready when the opportunity comes.
After that kind of showing, he’s worth watching closely. He could end up being the steal of this year’s draft.
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Meleek Thomas Gave Cavs Fans A Real Reason To Keep Watching
Meleek Thomas gave Cavaliers fans something to track in the Summer League finale, and Cleveland took advantage of it in a 100-91 win over the Bulls. Thomas led the way with 24 points, showing the kind of scoring touch that can make a summer game feel a little more meaningful, especially when he was able to create space and finish at the rim.
The start was not smooth, but Thomas settled in and found a rhythm as the game went on, turning a quiet opening into the kind of performance that stood out on a night when Riley Minix, Malaki Branham and TreVon Spillers also chipped in. Chicago got 22 points from Donovan Atwell, but the Cavaliers had the more encouraging individual storyline, and Thomas at least gave the building a reason to wonder what comes next. [Read more 🡒]