Meleek Thomas gives Cavs something to like in otherwise rough preseason finale

The Cavaliers probably won’t spend much time admiring their preseason finale. Meleek Thomas gave them a reason to watch a little of it again.

Thomas scored 16 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, as the Cavs closed the exhibition schedule with a 132-116 road loss to the Magic on Tuesday night.

He finished 6-of-9 from the field and showed what he can do when given the ball and some room to operate. The timing requires a little perspective, of course. Most of that production came after the Cavs pulled their regulars, with the game already out of hand.

Still, getting to your spots and making shots beats the alternative. Thomas did both.

The next step is finding ways to contribute alongside the Cavs’ established scorers. As Jackson Flickinger of Fear the Sword noted, Thomas attempted just one shot during his five minutes with the regular rotation through the first three quarters. He became considerably more comfortable when the offense ran through him late.

That’s an encouraging glimpse of his ability. Earning regular minutes will require more than fourth-quarter scoring in a preseason blowout.

For the Cavs’ veterans, this was a less enjoyable evening than Sunday’s win over Orlando.

James Harden finished with 13 points and two assists, shooting 6-of-14 after his sharp preseason debut. Donovan Mitchell had 15 points and eight assists in fewer than 25 minutes, doing his share to get others involved.

Evan Mobley missed his first five shots before recovering to finish with 14 points and five rebounds. He shot 6-of-14, following a 3-of-10 showing Sunday. The Cavs would certainly welcome an easier offensive start for him once the games count.

Jaylon Tyson added 12 points, while Peyton Watson supplied 10 points, four rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Their energy was a plus on a night when the Cavs needed more of it.

Mario Hezonja also continued to move in the right direction, finishing with 12 points, six rebounds and two assists after bouncing back Sunday from a sluggish opener against Boston.

Bottom line: The preseason is over, and the Cavs have plenty to clean up. Giving up 132 points isn’t the preferred send-off.

But Thomas supplied a little intrigue before the final buzzer. On this particular night, the Cavs could’ve used it.