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Cleveland • Tristan Thompson scored 17 points, Kyrie Irving added 14 and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 99-87 in the preseason opener for both teams Tuesday night.
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown returned to the Cleveland bench for the first time since being fired following the 2009-10 season. Brown coached the Lakers in 2011-12 before being let go five games into last season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, an 18-year-old guard from Greece who was the Bucks' first-round draft choice, scored 14 points. Stephen Graham led Milwaukee with 15.
Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova left the game in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle and was helped to the locker room. He did not return and scored six points in nine minutes.
Ilyasova said X-rays showed no fracture, but he would have more tests Wednesday. He was walking with the aid of a crutch when he emerged from the Bucks' training room.
"I've twisted that ankle before, but never that bad," said Ilyasova, who landed awkwardly after getting tangled up with Cleveland's C.J. Miles under Milwaukee's basket. "It really hurts when I step on it. I'll get a lot of treatment and we'll see, but it's the first game and it's really disappointing."
The Bucks played the game without swingman Carlos Delfino, center Zaza Pachulia and forward Ekpe Udoh, who were out with injuries.
Cavaliers center Tyler Zeller and forward Alonzo Gee also missed the game with injuries.