SAN FRANCISCO, CA — What began as a dominant performance by the Los Angeles Lakers quickly turned into one of the most remarkable collapses of the young NBA season Friday night.
After building a commanding 25-point lead early in the second quarter, the Lakers watched their advantage disappear as Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors stormed back for a stunning 112-95 victory at Chase Center in the opening game of NBA Cup group play.
The Warriors completed a remarkable 42-point turnaround, going from trailing by 25 to winning by 17. It marked the largest margin of victory in the NBA’s shot-clock era for a team that trailed by at least 20 points at the end of the first quarter, adding a historic distinction to an already embarrassing defeat for Los Angeles. (NBA)
Luka Dončić’s Explosive First Quarter Gives Lakers Complete Control
For the opening 12 minutes, the Lakers appeared unstoppable.
Luka Dončić delivered an extraordinary first-quarter performance, scoring 21 points while shooting 7-of-12 from the field and connecting on five three-pointers. He also recorded five assists and two steals, orchestrating an offensive attack that overwhelmed Golden State’s defense.
Los Angeles raced to a 38-15 advantage after the opening quarter, holding a 23-point lead while seemingly controlling every aspect of the game.
The Lakers extended their advantage to 40-15 early in the second quarter, establishing their largest lead of the night at 25 points.
At that moment, Golden State appeared headed toward another lopsided defeat against Los Angeles after already losing the teams’ season-opening meeting the previous week.
Instead, the Warriors responded with one of the most dramatic momentum shifts in recent NBA history. (NBA)
Warriors Erase 25-Point Deficit Before Halftime
Golden State’s comeback began with a complete reversal of its first-quarter performance.
De’Anthony Melton provided the initial spark off the bench, scoring seven consecutive points early in the second quarter to begin cutting into Los Angeles’ substantial advantage.
As Golden State’s offense found its rhythm, the Lakers struggled to generate quality possessions. Turnovers, poor shot selection and an inability to maintain their early offensive efficiency allowed the Warriors to seize control of the game’s tempo.
Melton scored 13 points in the second quarter, while Curry added eight as Golden State repeatedly attacked the Lakers’ defense.
By halftime, the Warriors had completely erased the deficit.
In an extraordinary statistical coincidence, Golden State outscored Los Angeles 38-15 in the second quarter, the exact reverse of the opening period.
The game entered halftime tied at 53-53, despite the Lakers having led by 25 points just minutes earlier.
Golden State became the first team in the NBA’s shot-clock era, including postseason games, to trail by at least 23 points after the first quarter and recover to enter halftime tied or leading.
What initially looked like a comfortable Lakers victory had become a completely different contest. (NBA)
Stephen Curry Takes Over as Lakers’ Offense Disappears
Although Dončić finished with a game-high 37 points, Curry ultimately delivered the performance that mattered most.
The Warriors superstar recorded 31 points, six assists and four rebounds, shooting 11-of-23 from the field and an impressive 8-of-14 from three-point range.
Curry’s perimeter shooting became increasingly devastating as the game progressed, particularly during Golden State’s second-half surge.
Los Angeles briefly regained control during the third quarter, building a nine-point advantage before Golden State responded with another offensive explosion.
The Warriors closed the period on a 22-8 run over the final 5:27, turning their deficit into an 85-80 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Brandin Podziemski played a significant role in the turnaround, finishing with 21 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Golden State then delivered the final blow in the fourth quarter, extending its advantage to double digits as Los Angeles’ offense completely unraveled.
An 18-0 Warriors run helped put the game out of reach, with Curry continuing to punish the Lakers from beyond the arc.
Curry also reached another personal milestone during the final period, passing Dominique Wilkins for 18th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
The Warriors outscored Los Angeles 27-15 in the fourth quarter, completing a comeback that seemed nearly impossible after the opening 15 minutes. (NBA)
Lakers’ Turnovers and Lack of Bench Production Prove Costly
While Golden State deserves considerable credit for its comeback, the Lakers’ offensive struggles were equally responsible for the collapse.
Los Angeles scored just 15 points in both the second and fourth quarters, a staggering decline from its 38-point opening period.
The Lakers also committed 20 team turnovers according to the NBA’s official box score, repeatedly surrendering possessions that could have helped stabilize their offense.
Austin Reaves finished with 21 points and five assists, providing the only substantial scoring support alongside Dončić.
However, the most glaring difference between the teams came from their respective benches.
Golden State’s reserves outscored the Lakers’ bench 50-7, an astonishing 43-point disparity that played a major role in the final outcome.
Melton contributed 16 points, while Georges Niang added 11 as Golden State received production throughout its rotation.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, became increasingly dependent on Dončić to create offense, with the Lakers struggling to maintain any consistency whenever their superstar was off the floor.
Despite Dončić and Reaves combining for 58 points, the remainder of the Lakers roster produced just 37.
That lack of offensive balance became impossible to overcome once Golden State began generating defensive stops and converting opportunities on the other end. (NBA)
JJ Redick Addresses Lakers’ Disappointing Collapse
Following the defeat, Lakers head coach JJ Redick acknowledged his team’s inability to respond to Golden State’s adjustments.
Redick pointed toward problems with the team’s decision-making, communication and offensive execution as the Warriors steadily took control.
The Lakers’ inability to protect the basketball was another significant concern, particularly as turnovers continued to interrupt potential scoring opportunities.
Dončić also accepted responsibility following the loss, acknowledging that both he and his teammates needed to perform better after surrendering such a substantial advantage.
The defeat was particularly frustrating considering how effectively Los Angeles had executed offensively during the opening quarter.
Rather than building on that performance, the Lakers allowed the Warriors to dictate the remainder of the contest, ultimately losing by double digits in a game they once led by 25.
For Redick, the challenge now becomes addressing the inconsistency that allowed a seemingly decisive advantage to disappear so quickly. (LA Times)
Historic Comeback Creates Early NBA Cup Statement
Beyond the rivalry between Los Angeles and Golden State, Friday’s result carries significance in the NBA Cup standings.
Both teams entered the matchup looking to begin West Group C play with a victory, making the result more consequential than an ordinary early-season contest.
Golden State’s 17-point victory also provides a substantial positive point differential, an important consideration in NBA Cup group play because point differential can factor into tiebreakers.
For the Warriors, the victory represents another encouraging result following a difficult 0-3 start to the regular season.
Curry remains the centerpiece of Golden State’s offense, but the contributions from Podziemski, Melton and the Warriors’ supporting cast demonstrated how dangerous the team can become when its rotation produces consistently.
The Lakers, meanwhile, leave San Francisco with a much different set of questions.
Dončić continues to demonstrate his ability to dominate offensively, but Friday’s collapse highlighted the challenges Los Angeles faces when its supporting cast struggles and its offense becomes overly dependent on individual shot creation.
The Lakers will return home to face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, while Golden State will host the Los Angeles Clippers. (NBA)
A Collapse That Raises Questions About the Lakers
One early-season defeat will not define the Lakers’ championship aspirations, but the manner in which Friday’s game unfolded should concern Los Angeles.
Building a 25-point lead against a team featuring Stephen Curry is impressive. Allowing that same opponent to turn the deficit into a 17-point victory is an entirely different story.
The 42-point turnaround was not simply the result of Curry catching fire. It exposed significant weaknesses in the Lakers’ ball security, offensive consistency and bench production.
Los Angeles went from scoring 38 points in the first quarter to managing just 57 over the remaining three periods. Golden State, meanwhile, scored 97 points after its disastrous 15-point opening quarter.
Those numbers illustrate just how dramatically the game shifted.
For the Warriors, Friday night provided a reminder that Curry remains capable of completely changing the outcome of a game, even when his team appears hopelessly outmatched.
For the Lakers, it was a missed opportunity to establish an early advantage in NBA Cup competition and a difficult reminder that even a 25-point lead offers little security without consistent execution.
A game that began as a potential statement victory for Los Angeles instead became a historic comeback for Golden State — and one of the most memorable collapses of the young NBA season.
