The Lakers vs Warriors have given us another great rivalry in the NBA cup league. The Warriors came back from 25 down to win 112-95 against the Lakers. This was one of the most dramatic comebacks of the young season.
What Happened?
The Warriors faced the Lakers in the NBA cup at the Chase Center. Luka Doncic started in fashion and the Lakers were flying ahead after one quarter of the game with a 38-15 lead.
Steve Kerr the headcoach of Golden State Warriors called a timeout after just over 2mins into the game because Golden State were losing 12-2. Luka Doncic played brilliantly in the opening quarter putting in 21 points. Kerr said “We couldn’t have played any worse.” in the first quarter.
In the first quarter Golden State Warriors turned it over 10 times giving the Lakers 17 points. After that, the Warriors had just five turnovers the rest of the night.
Then the whole game flipped. The Warriors won the second quarter by the exact same 38-15 score. Their bench sparked the run, and the Lakers never found an answer.
However, Stephen Curry took over. In the third quarter, he played a great crossover on Luka Doncic causing him to fall to the ground. The Warriors fans at the Chase Center went mad.
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers did not score for over 4 minutes. They could only score 15 points in the quarter. Warriors made history, they became the first team in 30 seasons to come from 25 down and win by 17+. Stephen Curry also surpassed Dominique Wilkins to be 18th on the all-time scoring list.
Who Stood out?
Stephen Curry put in a huge performance as he led the Warriors with 31 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds. He hit 8 out of 14 threes.
Brandin Podziemski put in a great performance with 21 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. De’Anthony Melton put in 16 points and Georges Niang scored 11. Overall, the Warriors bench out-scored the Lakers 50-7.
Draymond Green had a quiet game scoring only 2 points. But he put in 9 assists and was the engine behind the defense as they caused multiple turnovers.
Luka Doncic still put in a great performance scoring 37 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Austin Reaves scored 21 points but he had 8 turnovers. Walker Kessler grabbed 13 rebounds and 5 blocks. Los Angeles Lakers also turned the ball over a lot. They had 20 turnovers compared to Golden States Warriors 15.
JJ Redick, Lakers coach said they turned over the ball and were sloppy in the second quarter. He asked for patience, saying “You don’t become a great team in six games.” Doncic looked confused too as he said “I don’t know what it’s going to take.”
Two Very Different Games
The two teams faced each other in the season opener on October 21, 2026. The LA Lakers dominated with a 127-105 victory. This was their first season opener since the post-LeBron era.
Walker Kessler made his debut a memorable one. He scored 26 points in the game and went 12/12 from the field. Luka Doncic put in 28 points and Austin Reaves scored 23 points.
Doncic traded words with Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who earned a technical foul. Doncic then banked in a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer.
The two games show how much things can change. Los Angeles Lakers won by 22 points in the opener and Golden State Warriors won by 17 points.
League Updates and What Comes Next?
The NBA cup games are important for more than just pride. Results in the group will show who progress through. Early wins can really help.
Golden State are currently 3-3 after starting 0-3. The Lakers are 4-2 but have lost their last 2 out of 3 games.
Both teams have changed this season. The Lakers have 9 new players and are still finding their identity. Steve Kerr says that rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has changed the Warriors “dramatically” in the last 5 games.
The Lakers look strong when Luka Doncic and Walker Kessler play well together. However, they did turn the ball over a lot and have a weak bench. Also, Luka scored 21 points in the first quarter but only 16 for the rest of the game. The Lakers need more support from their team.
On the other hand, the Warriors have a deep roster and are playing well with the ball. Stephen Curry is still playing elite basketball at 38. Next up for the Lakers they face Toronto on Sunday night. The Warriors face the Clippers on Sunday and then the Suns on Monday.
