Stephen Curry and Luka Dončić delivered another unforgettable chapter in their rivalry on Friday night, producing spectacular individual performances, an outrageous crossover and a remarkable comeback.
What initially looked like a Luka Dončić masterclass eventually turned into another Stephen Curry show, as the Golden State Warriors overcame a 25-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-95 at Chase Center in both teams’ NBA Cup opener.
Dončić came out absolutely unstoppable. The Slovenian superstar erupted for 21 points in the opening quarter, knocking down five three-pointers while adding five assists and two steals. With Dončić controlling virtually every possession, Los Angeles raced to a commanding 38-15 advantage after 12 minutes and eventually extended its lead to 25 points.
But basketball can change remarkably quickly, especially when Curry is on the other side. Golden State responded with an extraordinary second quarter, outscoring the Lakers by the exact same 38-15 margin to enter halftime tied at 53.
It marked the first time in the NBA’s shot-clock era that a team had trailed by at least 23 points after the opening quarter and recovered to tie or lead at halftime.
And the best moment of the evening was still to come. Midway through the third quarter, Curry isolated Dončić on the perimeter, unleashed a devastating crossover that sent the Lakers superstar stumbling to the floor, and calmly drilled a three-pointer. The Chase Center crowd erupted.
Dončić responded almost immediately with a three-pointer of his own, silencing the crowd and briefly turning the matchup into a personal shooting contest between two of basketball’s greatest offensive talents.
However, while Dončić continued scoring, Curry had considerably more support. Golden State finished the third quarter on a 22-8 run before scoring the first 11 points of the fourth, transforming a nine-point deficit into a 16-point lead and effectively deciding the contest.
Curry finished with 31 points, six assists and four rebounds, connecting on eight of his 14 three-point attempts. The performance also moved him past Dominique Wilkins into 18th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Dončić led all scorers with 37 points, seven rebounds and five assists, but his individual brilliance ultimately wasn’t enough.
Brandin Podziemski contributed 21 points for Golden State, while De’Anthony Melton added 16 off the bench. The Warriors’ reserves outscored the Lakers’ bench 50-7, highlighting the enormous difference in supporting production.
Los Angeles also committed 22 turnovers and managed just 15 points in the final quarter. The victory marked Golden State’s third consecutive win after an 0-3 start and provided revenge for its opening-night defeat against the Lakers.
