CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Cavs win easily as Brown returns

Milwaukee's Miroslav Raduljica, top, fouls Cleveland's Anthony Bennett during the first half. Bennett scored seven points.

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers coach Mike Brown warned that it might not be pretty, and it wasn't. But the Cavs welcomed Brown back with a 99-87 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in the exhibition opener on Tuesday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

The now right-handed Tristan Thompson led the Cavs with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Kyrie Irving had 14 points and three assists. C.J. Miles and Dion Waiters each added 12 points.

No. 1 draft choice Anthony Bennett recovered from a slow start to finish with seven points and 10 rebounds, while undrafted rookie Kenny Kadji had 15 points and five rebounds.

Stephen Graham led Milwaukee with 15 points and rookie Giannis Antetokounm added 14 points but the Bucks shot 37.7 percent and had 24 turnovers. Of course, the Cavs had 26 turnovers. It was that kind of night.

Thanks to 13 points and seven rebounds from Thompson, the Cavs rolled out to a 52-38 lead at halftime, and it was never much of a game.

Drummond lifts Pistons

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Andre Drummond had 17 points and nine rebounds to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 91-69 exhibition victory Tuesday night over Maccabi Haifa, the reigning Israeli Basketball Super League champions.

David Cubillan scored 20 points for Maccabi.

Drummond and the Pistons dominated inside with 54 points in the paint — just 15 points fewer than Maccabi scored all game.

Detroit newcomer Brandon Jennings scored 15 points on 4 of 8 shooting, while fellow newcomer Josh Smith added 12 points, including three 3-pointers.

Chauncey Billups, making his first appearance in a Detroit uniform since being traded to Denver in 2008, started at shooting guard and went 0 for 4 from the field in 19 minutes played.

—Associated Press