Warriors Overcome 25-Point Deficit to Defeat Lakers in NBA Cup
Stephen Curry scored 31 points and the Golden State bench provided a massive spark to rally past Luka Doncic and Los Angeles.
The Golden State Warriors overcame a massive early deficit to secure a 112-95 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night at the Chase Center in an NBA Cup matchup. Trailing by as many as 25 points after a slow start, the Warriors responded with a stellar second-half performance to claim their third consecutive win.
Luka Doncic led all scorers with 37 points for the Lakers, piling up 21 of those points in a dominant first quarter that left the Warriors in a 38-15 hole. However, Golden State completely turned the tide in the second period, matching Los Angeles's first-quarter output with 38 points of their own to tie the game 53-53 by halftime.
Stephen Curry powered the Warriors' offense with 31 points, shooting eight three-pointers and adding six assists and four rebounds. During the final period, Curry surpassed Dominique Wilkins to claim the eighteenth spot on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Brandin Podziemski also delivered a standout performance for Golden State, contributing a season-high 21 points along with six assists, five rebounds, and crucial defensive hustle.
A major catalyst for the dramatic comeback was the exceptional play of the Warriors' bench, which outscored the Lakers' reserves 50 to 7. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.'s offseason roster decisions paid major dividends as the second unit heavily influenced the outcome. De'Anthony Melton scored 16 points off the bench, adding two steals and energetic defense during key stretches.
Veteran reserve Georges Niang provided a vital offensive boost for Golden State, shooting four of five from the field with three three-pointers to finish with 11 points and a plus-21 rating in 19 minutes of action. Niang's contributions proved essential on a night when the team needed production from its fringe rotation pieces.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg struggled significantly in his matchup against Doncic, fouling out with six points, one rebound, five turnovers, and a minus-20 rating. Despite the rookie's difficult night, the Warriors demonstrated remarkable depth and resilience by covering for his struggles and comfortably securing the victory.
The win places Golden State at the top of Group C in the NBA Cup standings, positioning the team favorably as point differentials could serve as tiebreakers for the tournament quarterfinals. The Warriors will look to carry this momentum forward as they continue their early-season schedule.