The Lakers had Golden State on the ropes after one quarter Friday night, but the game flipped fast and hard from there.
Los Angeles opened NBA Cup action by lighting up the Warriors for 38 points in the first quarter, while holding Golden State to 15. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves steering an offense that has made the Lakers one of the league’s most dangerous scoring teams, it looked like the kind of start that would carry them to another convincing win.
Instead, the Warriors answered with the exact same punch. Golden State matched Los Angeles with a 38-15 second quarter, then kept rolling from there. Over the final 36 minutes, the Warriors outscored the Lakers 95-57 in a stunning reversal that turned a promising night into a brutal collapse.
Doncic still put up big numbers in the loss, finishing with 37 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal. He shot 12-of-27 from the field, hit 6-of-16 from three, and went 7-of-8 at the line.
Reaves added 21 points and five assists, while Walker Kessler posted 10 points and 13 rebounds. Jake LaRavia and Matisse Thybulle also chipped in 10 points apiece, giving Los Angeles five double-digit scorers.
The defeat dropped the Lakers to 4-2. They now sit fifth in the Western Conference, ahead of the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves, but behind the Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Los Angeles gets a chance to reset at home next, with the Toronto Raptors coming in for a Nov. 1 tip at 9 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Luka Doncic Just Got A Warriors Rematch Lakers Fans Will Feel
The Lakers will not have to wait long for another look at Golden State, with the teams set to meet Oct. 30 in San Francisco in their first NBA Cup group-stage game of the season. For Los Angeles, it is an early measuring-stick matchup against a familiar rival, and one that already carries a little extra edge before the calendar even turns to November.
Luka Doncic and Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had a contentious exchange in their previous meeting, and the moment was notable enough to draw commentary from ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith. With the rematch now on the schedule, Lakers fans have a clear reason to circle the date and watch how the next chapter between Doncic and Golden State unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Win Is Fueling A Bigger Rotation Debate Without Luka
The Lakers 103-87 win over the Clippers offered more than just a clean result without Luka Doncic. It also gave JJ Redick a useful look at combinations he can lean on while the roster works through early injuries, with Jarred Vanderbilt and Sandro Mamukelashvili drawing praise for how well they fit together and Collin Sexton making his presence felt in a way that stood out to the coaching staff.
For a team still trying to sort out its rotation, that kind of performance can matter as much as the final score. The Lakers have reason to feel encouraged by the way the group is coming together, but the bigger question now is how Redick balances those encouraging pieces once the lineup gets closer to full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Luka Doncic Turns Lakers Warriors Rematch Into A Rookie Test Fast
The Lakers next meeting with Golden State is shaping up as more than just another early-season rematch. It also brings back a familiar individual matchup, with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg getting another look at Luka Doncic after Doncic helped lead Los Angeles past the Warriors in the season opener.
Lendeborg has been trending up lately, averaging 27.7 points and 10 rebounds over his last three games, which makes this a meaningful measuring stick for a young player trying to hold his own. Doncic, meanwhile, has been in full command offensively, scoring 93 points over his last two games, and the way he handles this rematch should say plenty about how far Lendeborg has come defensively. [Read more 🡒]