Warriors Erase 25-Point Deficit to Beat Lakers 112-95 as Curry Scores 31

Q: Was Curry’s ankle-shaking 3 the turning point, or did the Lakers’ 15-point fourth quarter truly decide Golden State’s 112-95 comeback win?

The Lakers’ 15-point fourth quarter was the real decider, while Curry’s ankle-shaking 3 was the emotional spark. Curry’s step-back over Luka Dončić mattered because it crystallized Golden State’s momentum. It cut the deficit to 69-63 midway through the third, energized the building, and became the game’s signature image. But it did not immediately flip the result. Dončić answered with a 3 on the next possession, showing Los Angeles still had control to regain. The stronger evidence is in the full-game flow. Golden State had already done the hardest part before that highlight, erasing a 25-point hole and turning a 38-15 first quarter deficit into a tie by halftime after winning the second quarter 38-15. The comeback was underway well before Curry’s viral shot. What settled the game was the Lakers’ collapse in the fourth. Los Angeles scored only 15 points in the final period, while Golden State’s defense tightened and the Warriors finally separated on the scoreboard. That stretch transformed a competitive comeback into a 17-point win, 112-95. So the best read is that Curry’s shot was the turning-point moment in narrative terms — the play everyone will remember — but the fourth quarter was the turning point in basketball terms. The Warriors’ defense, the Lakers’ offensive drop-off, and Golden State’s sustained execution actually decided the outcome.

Q: What made Curry’s 31-point night against the Lakers even bigger than the viral highlight, as he also passed Dominique Wilkins in NBA scoring?

Curry’s night mattered most because it combined a historic team comeback with a personal milestone. Beyond the viral step-back 3 over Luka Dončić, Curry scored 31 points, hit 8 of 14 from deep, and helped drive Golden State from a 25-point hole to a 112-95 win over the Lakers. The Warriors’ rally was not just dramatic; it was historic, becoming the largest margin of victory in the shot-clock era by a team that had trailed by at least 20 points after the first quarter. The game also carried major career significance. In the fourth quarter, Curry passed Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins for 18th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He moved beyond Wilkins’ 26,668 points and finished the night with 26,674 career points. That made the performance bigger than a single highlight clip. Curry was not only the engine of one of the Warriors’ most remarkable comebacks, coming two nights after a 44-point outing against Minnesota, but he also added another landmark to his legacy by climbing higher on the NBA’s all-time scoring ladder.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Oct 31

Golden State turned a 38-15 first-quarter hole into a 112-95 NBA Cup win over the Lakers, the biggest shot-clock-era victory by a team down at least 20 after one quarter.
Stephen Curry drove the comeback with 31 points and 8-of-14 3-point shooting, including a third-quarter crossover that dropped Luka Dončić before a 24-foot 3 cut the deficit to 69-63.
Dončić had fueled Los Angeles' fast start with 21 first-quarter points and finished with a game-high 37, but the Lakers managed only 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Curry said he was only trying to create space on the highlight play and "didn't expect it to get that nasty"; the basket also pushed him past Dominique Wilkins into 18th on the all-time scoring list at 26,674 points.