SAN FRANCISCO — The Los Angeles Lakers built a 25-point lead Friday night, then watched it disappear before halftime in a 112-95 loss to the Golden State Warriors in their first NBA Cup game of the season.
What began as one of the Lakers’ best quarters of the young season turned into their most complete collapse. Los Angeles led 38-15 after the opening period and went up 40-15 early in the second, but Golden State answered by outscoring the Lakers 38-15 in the quarter to tie the game at 53.
The Lakers briefly recovered after halftime and rebuilt a nine-point advantage. It did not hold. Golden State closed the third quarter with the lead, then controlled the fourth 27-15 to finish a 42-point turnaround from its largest deficit.
Turnovers and the bench change the game
The Lakers committed 22 turnovers, which Golden State converted into 27 points. Austin Reaves accounted for eight of them on a night when the Warriors repeatedly turned loose possessions into transition chances and quick offense.
The difference between the benches was just as damaging. Lakers reserves combined for seven points on 3-of-16 shooting. Los Angeles received little relief when Luka Dončić went to the bench, and a lead that looked secure after one quarter was gone by halftime.
Dončić carried the offense with 37 points, seven rebounds and five assists. He scored 21 in the first quarter, attacking Golden State from deep and helping the Lakers build their 23-point advantage through 12 minutes.
Reaves finished with 21 points on 9-of-19 shooting and added five assists, but the turnovers undercut his scoring. Walker Kessler had 10 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, giving the Lakers their strongest interior presence even as the game moved away from them.
Matisse Thybulle scored 10 points and recorded three steals. Jake LaRavia, inserted into the starting lineup, added 10 points.
Lakers cannot slow Stephen Curry after halftime
Stephen Curry led Golden State with 31 points. The Warriors kept him within range during the comeback, then used their ball movement and perimeter shooting to pull away after the Lakers had regained control early in the third.
Golden State outscored Los Angeles 97-55 after falling behind 40-15. The Warriors won the final three quarters and handed the Lakers a 17-point defeat nine days after Los Angeles opened the season with a 127-105 win over Golden State.
The loss drops the Lakers to 0-1 in West Group C of the NBA Cup and 4-2 overall. Point differential matters in the group stage, making the final margin another part of the damage from a game Los Angeles once appeared ready to control.
It was also a sharp reversal from Wednesday, when the short-handed Lakers beat the Clippers 103-87 by forcing turnovers and controlling the defensive end. This time, the giveaways belonged to Los Angeles.
The Lakers return home to face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at 6 p.m. PT.
[…] blowing a 25-point lead in Friday’s 112-95 loss to the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers nearly invited another uncomfortable ending. This time, however, their lead was large […]