Emoni Bates lead Charge to victory over Lakers

The Charge won a back-and-forth game with a big fourth quarter.

Emoni Bates drilled seven threes en route to 30 points while Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Porter Jr. paced the offense with a team-high 10 assists to help the Cleveland Charge defeat the South Bay Lakers 125-113 to start the regular season 1-0.

It was an electric crowd at Cleveland’s Public Auditorium with a record-setting 5,153 in attendance, the largest in team history. Many of those in the stands came to see Bronny James return to Northeast Ohio. The junior James finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in what looked like one of the most complete games of his G League career so far.

The Charge and Lakers traded blows each quarter, with both teams alternating leads throughout. Cleveland trailed by six at the end of the first quarter only to outscore the Lakers by 12 in the second. South Bay came back with a big third quarter before the Charge won the final frame 30-16.

Bates finished with 30 points on 10-21 shooting, including 7-11 from deep, and seemed to hit shots when the Charge needed it most. It isn't always pretty given his shot selection, but when he gets hot, Bates is hard to stop.

“He’s just looked better and better each game, not even with just the shotmaking but with just how he's moving and how he's trusting his body out there,” Charge Head Coach Chris Darnell said after the game. “You can see him make some plays on the defensive end and that’s what I'm always talking to him about.

“He’s been bought in.”

Porter Jr. was even more impactful, finishing with 28 points on an uber-efficient 12-15 from the floor. “Craig, I think that was his best game he has played in a Charge uniform,” Darnell said. “He was just incredible, his efficiency on offense, his playmaking, and then his defensive impact obviously with the five steals. You just felt him every possession.”

Devonte Graham kept the Lakers afloat with 18 points, including a flurry in the third quarter. Jordan Goodwin and Sir’Jabari Rice each had 19 points apiece as well. But James is who the fans came to see on the opposing team, and for the most part, he did not disappoint.

It was a complete performance for the junior James, building off his 30-point performance in the G League Showcase. He got a nice cheer from the crowd when he was introduced, as expected.

The Charge will face the Lakers again on Saturday night at Cleveland Public Auditorium. Tip-off is at 7:00 pm.