In the NBA Cup group stage opener at Chase Center, the Golden State Warriors overcame a 25-point first-half deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-95, securing their third straight win after an 0-3 start to the season.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who had called Luka Dončić a "flopping crybaby" after their previous meeting, struggled mightily. He finished with six points, one rebound, zero assists, five turnovers and a game-low minus-20 in 24 minutes before fouling out. Lendeborg later admitted he would "try not to wet the bed as bad as I did."
Dončić, meanwhile, erupted for 21 points in the first quarter and finished with 37 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal, outscoring the entire Warriors team in the opening period.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors' second-half surge with 31 points, including eight three-pointers, and passed Dominique Wilkins for 18th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Brandin Podziemski added 21 points, six assists and five rebounds, while De'Anthony Melton and Georges Niang combined for 27 points and seven three-pointers. Draymond Green took over defensive duties on Dončić and dished out nine assists. The Warriors' bench outscored Los Angeles' reserves 50-7, and the defense held the Lakers to just 57 points over the final three quarters.
After the game, Lendeborg acknowledged his teammates' support: "Them boys had my back today." Coach Steve Kerr emphasized the team-first lesson: "He did a good job on Luka one-on-one, but we got torched by Luka as a team... It's our defense."
