hawaiitribune_herald
Stephen Curry poured in 31 points, including eight 3-pointers, as the Golden State Warriors stormed back from a 25-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-95 on Friday night in San Francisco. The win served as a measure of revenge for the Warriors, who had lost to the Lakers on opening night.
Curry, who was coming off a 44-point outburst in a win at Minnesota, connected on 8 of 14 attempts from beyond the arc and also dished out six assists. The Warriors' bench was instrumental in the comeback, adding 50 points to the cause.
The game featured a wild first half in which each team won a quarter by a 38-15 margin. Golden State trailed 72-63 just past the midpoint of the third period before taking control over the next 10 minutes.
A decisive 33-8 run began with a 22-8 burst to close the third quarter, with reserves Brandon Williams, Charles Bassey, and De'Anthony Melton combining for 13 points during that stretch. Leading 85-80 at the quarter break, the Warriors opened the fourth with 11 straight points to extend their advantage to 17. Brandin Podziemski started the period with a two-point basket and a 3-pointer, while Curry added the other six points in the spurt.
The Lakers, who had beaten the Warriors 127-105 at home on Oct. 21, could not get closer than 12 points the rest of the way. Curry's season-high eight 3-pointers helped Golden State outscore Los Angeles 66-33 from beyond the arc.
Podziemski finished with 21 points and four 3-pointers, while Melton (16 points) and Georges Niang (11) provided key contributions off the bench as the Warriors won their third straight game after starting the season 0-3. Golden State prevailed despite a rough night from star rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who had six points, five turnovers, and six fouls. Draymond Green contributed nine assists and three steals in the win.
Doncic, who ignited the Lakers' fast start with 21 first-quarter points, hit six 3-pointers en route to his game-high 37 points. He also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out five assists, and blocked two shots. Austin Reaves added 21 points, and fellow starters Jake LaRavia, Walker Kessler, and Matisse Thybulle each had 10 points for Los Angeles, which got just seven points from its bench. Kessler was the game's leading rebounder with 13. The Lakers hurt their own cause with 22 turnovers, including eight from Reaves.
Key Analysis
The Warriors' comeback was fueled by their 3-point shooting and bench production, overcoming a slow start and a spectacular individual effort from Doncic. Golden State's depth proved crucial, while Los Angeles struggled with turnovers and a lack of bench scoring. The victory signals a potential turnaround for the Warriors after an 0-3 start, while the Lakers need to address their ball security and support for Doncic.
Originally reported by hawaiitribune_herald.