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Cavalier superlatives: Meleek Thomas shines in an otherwise disappointing performance vs. Magic

The Cleveland Cavaliers' preseason campaign ended on a sour note with a 132-116 loss to the Orlando Magic, a game that exposed significant defensive vulnerabilities for the Cavs. While the Magic’s offense clicked thanks to standout performances from Franz Wagner (20 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds) and Paolo Banchero (24 points, 8 rebounds), the Cavaliers struggled to contain Orlando’s interior threats, particularly Banchero, who dominated with 7-for-8 shooting in the restricted area.

The Cavs’ defense was exposed throughout, with Evan Mobley’s underwhelming output (14 points, 5 rebounds, 0 assists) continuing a trend of inconsistency in three preseason games. The lone bright spot came from rookie Meleek Thomas, who scored 16 points—all but two in the fourth quarter—highlighting his scoring potential but raising questions about his ability to thrive in an off-ball role.

Jaylon Tyson also showed promise with 12 points and improved ball-handling, offering a glimmer of hope for Cleveland’s offensive development moving forward.

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