For one quarter on Friday night it looked like opening night all over again. The Lakers, who had routed Golden State by 22 points in the season opener, raced to a 38-15 lead at Chase Center as the Warriors managed just five baskets. By the final buzzer the scoreboard read 112-95 in Golden State’s favour, a swing of more than 40 points in their first NBA Cup game.
The turnaround came all at once. Golden State won the second quarter by the same 38-15 margin that had buried them in the first, leaning on a barrage of three-pointers from Stephen Curry, Georges Niang and De’Anthony Melton. Brandin Podziemski supplied the exclamation point, burying a three with under a second left in the half to level the game at 53.
The third quarter was a scrap, but the fourth belonged to the hosts. Los Angeles scored only 15 points in the final period, while the Warriors stretched a five-point cushion to as many as 17. Curry finished with 31 points, eight of them from long range, plus six assists, and Podziemski added 21. The depth gap was startling: Golden State’s reserves outscored the Lakers’ bench 50-7, with Melton contributing 16.
Luka Dončić did everything he could to keep Los Angeles afloat, posting 37 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Help simply dried up around him after halftime.
It continues a strong week for Curry, who had poured in 44 points in a win at Minnesota two nights earlier. Golden State are now back to .500 at 3-3 and stay at home to face the Clippers on Sunday.
