SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Golden State dug out of a 25-point hole Friday night and pulled away to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-95 at Chase Center in the opening game of Emirates NBA Cup group play for both teams.
Luka Doncic started like he wanted to settle a score. He piled up 21 points in the first quarter alone, hitting five 3-pointers, as the Lakers jumped out 38-15. Los Angeles stretched the gap to 25 early in the second period.
The game flipped once Doncic went to the bench. Golden State won the second quarter by the same 38-15 margin, with Stephen Curry and reserve Georges Niang heating up from deep, and the teams were tied 53-53 at halftime. No team in the shot clock era had trailed by 23 or more after one quarter and been level or ahead at the break.
The Lakers briefly regained a nine-point edge in the third, but the Warriors took their first lead late in the quarter and then blew it open with an 18-0 run early in the fourth while the Los Angeles reserves were on the floor. The Lakers managed only 57 points over the final three quarters and committed 20 turnovers.
Curry scored 31 to go with six assists and four boards, and he moved past Dominique Wilkins for 18th on the career scoring list during the fourth quarter. Brandin Podziemski added 21 points and De’Anthony Melton scored 16 off the bench.
Doncic topped all scorers at 37 and added seven rebounds plus five assists. He also drew a technical foul late in the third as the crowd jeered him. The Lakers had won the season opener between the teams last week.
Los Angeles goes home to face Toronto on Sunday and Miami on Monday.
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