Live Updates: 2026 NBA Summer League, Day 9 | Meleek Thomas highlights Bulls-Cavaliers

Meleek Thomas and the Cleveland Cavaliers are taking on the Chicago Bulls on ESPN as the 2026 NBA Summer League continues.

Welcome to Day 9 of the 2026 NBA Summer League!

Friday’s slate opens with the Charlotte Hornets taking on Sacramento Kings (

6:30 ET, Prime Video

) in the Pavilion and the Chicago Bulls facing the Cleveland Cavaliers (

7 ET, ESPN

), led by No. 34 pick Meleek Thomas, in the Thomas & Mack Center.

Friday’s Summer League schedule

2026 NBA Summer League standings

Recap: Lakers, Grizzlies, Warriors and Rockets reach semifinals on Day 8 of Summer League

Recap: 2026 California Classic

Recap: 2026 Salt Lake City Summer League

JULY 17 / 8:15 p.m. ET

Kings-Hornets going down to the wire

84-83 Charlotte with 4:14 to go on Prime. Catch the finish on this Friday night!

JULY 17 / 7:48 p.m. ET

Meleek on the attack

Meleek Thomas (12 pts, 2 3PM) is at it again for the Cavaliers, who are up 45-37 on the Bulls at the half.

Meleek Thomas' speed 😳

The No. 34 overall pick leads all scorers with 12 points on ESPN!

pic.twitter.com/nSSj4d52lW

— NBA (@NBA)

July 17, 2026

The No. 34 pick is the only player in double figures in the contest, helping the Cavs rack up a 24-10 advantage in points in the paint.

Legitimate burst here from the rookie out of Arkansas.

JULY 17 / 7:00 p.m. ET

Bulls-Cavaliers about to tip off on ESPN

No. 34 pick Meleek Thomas, fresh off a 35-point outing, leads the Cavaliers against the Bulls.

JULY 17 / 6:50 p.m. ET

These teams are running

We’re lacking shot clocks at the moment, so both teams are pushing the ball, creating an interesting change-of-pace in the Pavilion.

We’ve seen 18 shots in the first five-plus minutes of the game, with Hannes Steinbach (9 pts, 3 reb) excelling in the high tempo environment.

Hannes Steinbach is off to a HOT start 🔥

The No. 14 pick has 9 of the Hornets' first 11 PTS on Prime!

pic.twitter.com/8q43Ptifux

14-11 Kings with 3:57 to go in the first.

JULY 17 / 6:30 p.m. ET

Kings

–

Hornets

opens Friday’s action on Prime

No. 14 pick Hannes Steinbach and No. 18 pick Christian Anderson are in action for the Hornets as they take on the Kings.

JULY 17 / 6:15 p.m. ET

Charlotte Hornets vs. Sacramento Kings (

)

Featuring No. 14 pick Hannes Steinbach and No. 18 pick Christian Anderson

Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (

Featuring No. 34 pick Meleek Thomas

Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks (

8:30 ET, Prime Video

Featuring No. 25 pick Sergio De Larrea

Detroit Pistons vs. Miami Heat (

9 ET, ESPN

Featuring No. 17 pick Ebuka Okorie

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz (

10:30 ET, Prime Video

Featuring 2025 No. 16 pick Yang Hansen

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. LA Clippers (

11 ET, ESPN

Featuring No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler

JULY 17 / 6:00 p.m. ET

Recap of Day 8 in the 2026 NBA Summer League

The Lakers, Rockets, Grizzlies and Warriors advanced to the tournament semifinals, where they’ll compete for the championship.

Led by

No. 25 pick Sergio De Larrea (9 reb, 14 ast)

and the

high-flying acrobatics

of Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu (12 pts, 5 reb), the Mavericks defeated the Thunder

97-87

to open Thursday’s action.

The Rockets beat the Nets

103-83

, led by backcourt mates Bruce Thornton (23 pts) and Tristen Newton (20 pts), giving them a 3-1 record and, eventually, a spot in the semifinals.

The Lakers advanced to the semifinals by earning a

105-82

win over the Bulls, as six double-figure scorers overcame Caleb Wilson (21 pts, 8 reb).

The Warriors vaulted into contention for a semifinals spot by beating the Knicks

87-77

, later clinching it after the Blazers won the final game of the night..

No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer (24 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast)

and the Grizzlies clinched a semifinals spot by demolishing the Hawks

96-64

, holding them to a Summer League record-low 2 first-quarter points.

The Raptors earned a

99-90

win over the Heat, led by

No. 19 pick Allen Graves (23 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast).

Yang Hansen (

13 pts, 5 reb, 4 blk

) led six Blazers in double figures as they defeated the Nuggets 108-101, denying them a spot in the semifinals.