Meleek Thomas scored 16 points in 19 minutes as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied for a 127-125 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, turning his NBA debut into a memorable one after he had not seen the floor in the team’s first two games.
The rookie guard had been confident that his moment would arrive.
“It was on my mind I was going to be on my best version. Have a great showing, stand out and make sure people leaving the gym know my name,” said Thomas, the 34th overall pick in June’s NBA draft.
A Strong Debut Off the Bench
Thomas entered for Peyton Watson with 5:53 remaining in the first quarter. He missed his first shot, a 28-foot 3-pointer from the right wing, but bounced back with a running layup with 3:39 left in the opening period. He played 10 minutes in the first half and led Cleveland with 10 points at the break.
He finished 6-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, and added two rebounds and one steal. The 20-year-old’s total was the second-most points by a Cavaliers rookie in his debut coming off the bench. Brevin Knight scored 18 against Houston on Oct. 31, 1997, after being selected 16th overall out of Stanford.
Thomas averaged 15.6 points and shot 41.6% from 3-point range at Arkansas last season. Before the draft, he drew comparisons to CJ McCollum, since both are 6-foot-3 guards and McCollum excelled from long range.
Veterans Praise the Rookie
All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who led Cleveland with 25 points, said Thomas’s performance stood out.
“It is very rare to ride the coattails of a rookie riding into the half,” Mitchell said. “For him to be the spark in his first game of the year is not normal. He made some mistakes but they were aggressive. He was fearless and trying to impact the game.”
Mitchell also highlighted Thomas’s defensive effort. “His attention to detail defensively surprised me,” he said. “Offensively he makes shots. He’s trying and willing to learn. We definitely got lucky with him but he set a high precedent for himself.”
Thomas spent time with James Harden and Mitchell during preseason workouts, which helped build his confidence.
Why Thomas Got His Chance
Coach Kenny Atkinson said he had not played Thomas against Philadelphia or Brooklyn because of matchup problems. He decided to see what the rookie could do against Minnesota because the Cavaliers needed a third ball handler on the floor to take pressure off Mitchell and Harden.
“It was an amazing feeling. It was kind of everything I expected. I knew I had to stay ready and my moment will come. You can’t keep a star in the closet,” Thomas said.
Cleveland Rallies Late
Cleveland trailed by 15 points in the first half before storming back in the third quarter. The Cavaliers eventually completed the comeback in overtime. Thomas did not play during the final 9:35 of the game, yet Mitchell credited the rookie for the win.
Atkinson pointed to the team’s long-term view of the young guard. “In this league, you have to do it over and over. Since the day we drafted him we were bullish on him,” he said.