Emoni Bates Shines Late In Second Straight Cavaliers Preseason Game

Cleveland's 19-year-old rookie scored in double-figures in the fourth quarter for his second consecutive preseason game.

In his first two NBA preseason games, Cleveland Cavaliers two-way rookie Emoni Bates has not shied away from late-game pressure.

On Tuesday night, in a road contest against the Atlanta Hawks, the 19-year-old scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, including a go-ahead three-pointer with 10.5 seconds remaining.

Last night, at home against the Orlando Magic, Bates rose to the occasion again, nearly leading Cleveland to victory. After not playing in the first three quarters, he entered the game to begin the fourth period.

Bates picked up where he left off in Atlanta, leading all fourth-quarter players with 12 points and four rebounds in the period. He shot 4-for-8 from the field, including 3-for-6 from three, and made his only free throw attempt.

3moniii! 👌@BatesEmoni | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/61aUINOi4W

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 13, 2023

With 5:04 remaining in the contest, the Magic took a 19-point lead at 104-85, their largest advantage of the night. 

However, Bates and the Cavaliers refused to quit, ending the game on a 20-4 run. His final three-pointer of the night concluded the game’s scoring, putting Cleveland within three points with 37 seconds remaining.

Oct 12, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Emoni Bates (21) celebrates after hitting a three point basket during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse / © Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Cavaliers fans are eager to see if the 2023 NBA Draft's 49th overall pick can unleash his vast potential.

As a high schooler, his 6-foot-9 frame and stellar scoring ability drew comparisons to Kevin Durant. This resulted in him being a consensus top-five recruit by every major recruiting service for the Class of 2021.

In college, after transferring from Memphis, Bates averaged a team-best 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game at Eastern Michigan last season, including scoring 29 straight points in a game against Toledo.

As a two-way player, Bates is currently on both the Cavaliers and G-League Cleveland Charge rosters. With more performances like his first two preseason games, he could be a valuable asset in Cleveland's rotation this season.