Warriors Erase 25-Point Deficit to Beat Lakers 112-95 in Historic NBA Cup Opener

Q: How did Stephen Curry and a 47-7 bench edge fuel the Warriors’ historic 25-point comeback over Luka Dončić’s Lakers?

Stephen Curry’s shot-making and Golden State’s overwhelming bench production were the decisive forces in the Warriors’ 112-95 comeback over the Lakers. Curry finished with 31 points, eight 3-pointers and six assists, and he took over as Golden State settled after a disastrous opening quarter. After the Warriors fell behind by 25 while Luka Dončić exploded for 21 first-quarter points, Curry’s scoring helped steady the offense and stretch the floor. His fourth-quarter push also carried extra significance as he passed Dominique Wilkins for 18th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Just as important, the Warriors won the non-Dončić minutes decisively. Their bench outscored the Lakers’ reserves 47-7, a massive gap that flipped the game once Los Angeles’ early starters-driven surge faded. That second-unit dominance gave Golden State energy, fresh defense and enough scoring to erase the deficit by halftime after a 38-15 second quarter answered the Lakers’ 38-15 first. The Warriors then turned the comeback into a rout with defense and depth. Golden State closed the third quarter on a 22-8 run, limiting the Lakers after Dončić’s hot start and forcing the game onto Los Angeles’ thinner supporting cast. Dončić still finished with 37 points and six made 3s, but the Lakers could not match Golden State’s sustained pressure. The result was historic: the Warriors produced the largest margin of victory in the shot-clock era by a team that trailed by at least 20 after the first quarter.

Q: Was this comeback more about Curry’s brilliance, Golden State’s depth, or the Lakers’ collapse after Dončić’s explosive start?

It was mostly a blend of Curry’s shot-making and Golden State’s depth, with the Lakers’ collapse as the secondary factor. Curry gave the comeback its force and its finish. His 31 points, eight 3-pointers and six assists changed the game’s emotional and tactical balance, especially once Golden State had trimmed the deficit. He also delivered in the decisive stretch, when the Warriors turned a rally into a comfortable win. Without that elite scoring burst, the comeback likely stalls. But the clearest structural reason Golden State erased 25 points was its bench and two-way pressure. The Warriors’ reserves outscored the Lakers’ second unit 47-7, a massive gap that explains how the game flipped after Los Angeles’ explosive opening. Golden State also tightened defensively after Luka Dončić’s 21-point first quarter, limiting the Lakers’ ability to keep matching runs once his early barrage cooled. The Lakers did contribute to their own downfall. After scoring 38 points in the first quarter, they lost control of tempo, failed to sustain shot quality, and were overwhelmed by Golden State’s third-quarter 22-8 closing run. Dončić still finished with 37, but Los Angeles became too dependent on his creation and got little support as the game wore on. So this was not simply a Lakers collapse, nor solely a Curry solo act. It was a star-driven comeback powered by unusual bench dominance and sharper defense, with Los Angeles unable to respond once its hot start ended.

3 articles · Updated · NBA.com · Oct 31

Golden State opened Emirates NBA Cup group play at 1-0 after turning a 25-point hole into a 112-95 win over the Lakers, the biggest victory in the shot-clock era by a team down 20-plus after one quarter.
Stephen Curry drove the rally with 31 points, eight 3-pointers and six assists, and his fourth-quarter 3 moved him past Dominique Wilkins into 18th on the NBA scoring list.
The comeback flipped fast: after losing the first quarter 38-15, the Warriors won the second by the same 38-15 margin, then closed the third on a 22-8 run to seize their first lead since 2-0.
Luka Dončić gave the Lakers early control with 21 points, five 3-pointers and five assists in the first quarter, but Golden State's defense and reduced turnovers fueled a 40-point swing.