Lakers Collapse Against Warriors After Blowing 25-Point Lead
Superstar Luka Doncic and guard Austin Reaves took full accountability for the team's struggles following a 112-95 defeat at Chase Center.
The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a painful collapse on Friday night at Chase Center, squandering a 25-point lead to lose 112-95 to the Golden State Warriors. Despite a strong start that featured a 21-point first quarter from superstar Luka Doncic, the Lakers were outscored decisively in the second half as the Warriors mounted a major comeback.
Doncic finished the game with 37 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, leading the NBA in scoring for the 2026-27 season with an average of 36.2 points per game. However, his 16 points across the final three quarters were not enough to hold off Golden State, who capitalized on a wave of Los Angeles mistakes and a stellar performance by Stephen Curry.
Turnovers plagued the Lakers throughout the night, culminating in a season-high 22 giveaways. Guard Austin Reaves struggled significantly with ball security, committing eight turnovers for the second consecutive game. Reaves did not mince words when assessing his performance during the postgame press conference.
"I was terrible again. That's it," Reaves said, adding that his struggles against the Warriors' defensive pressure particularly hurt the unit starting the second quarter. He emphasized that the team's ball security must improve immediately.
The Warriors seized momentum by winning the second quarter 38-15, erasing a dominant 40-15 Lakers advantage and tying the game at halftime. Golden State continued to apply defensive pressure in the fourth quarter, turning a comfortable Los Angeles position into a 17-point defeat.
Reflecting on the loss and the team's overall trajectory, Doncic stressed that developing chemistry and learning how to handle aggressive defenses will take time. He noted that the roster features several new players still adjusting to their roles.
"I don't know what it's going to take, obviously reps, just playing these games. The Warriors are a good example; they play defense, they shock a lot, so it was a good game for us. Not good because we lost, but it's gonna take time for sure. I really like playing with these guys. Me first. I got to be better. We lose together, we win together," Doncic stated.
Head coach JJ Redick echoed his players' sentiments regarding the long-term development of the squad. Redick pointed out that building a championship contender requires patience over an 82-game schedule and noted that the supporting cast must maintain stability when Doncic rests.
"You don't become a great team in six games. We want to become a great team after 82 games," Redick said, highlighting that the Lakers cannot rely entirely on one player to carry the load every single night.