EST NBA Recap | October 30, 2026
The Golden State Warriors pulled off an extraordinary comeback Friday night, overcoming a 25-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 112–95 at Chase Center.
Stephen Curry finished with 31 points and eight three-pointers, while Brandin Podziemski added 21 points. Luka Dončić led Los Angeles with 37 points, but the Lakers went from dominating the opening quarter to being completely overwhelmed.
First Quarter: Lakers Take Complete Control
Los Angeles couldn’t have asked for a much better opening quarter.
Dončić established himself early, knocking down three-pointers, attacking the basket and creating opportunities for his teammates. Jake LaRavia and Matisse Thybulle also connected from beyond the arc, while Walker Kessler provided a presence around the basket.
Golden State struggled to keep pace. Curry made an early three, but the Warriors couldn’t generate consistent offense, and their defense repeatedly allowed the Lakers to find quality scoring opportunities.
Dončić continued piling on the points, including multiple step-back threes, as Los Angeles stretched its advantage to 25.
By the end of the quarter, the Lakers led 38–15.
It looked like Golden State was heading toward an embarrassing home defeat.
Second Quarter: Warriors Fight Their Way Back
The second quarter completely changed the direction of the game.
De’Anthony Melton sparked Golden State’s comeback, opening the period with a floater before connecting on a three-pointer. Georges Niang followed with a three of his own, and Melton added another from deep as the Warriors began cutting into the deficit.
Draymond Green played an important role as a facilitator, repeatedly finding open shooters.
Curry then knocked down a three to make it 40–28, forcing Los Angeles to recognize that its enormous lead was slipping away.
The Warriors continued chipping away. Melton connected on another three, and Curry later buried a 27-footer to bring Golden State within 51–40.
Curry followed with a driving layup, Podziemski scored in transition, and Al Horford knocked down a three to cut the deficit to just four points at 51–47.
The Lakers had gone from cruising to desperately trying to hold off a surging Warriors team.
Austin Reaves provided some resistance with a late floater, but Golden State had already accomplished something significant: it had turned a potential blowout into a game.
Third Quarter: Curry’s Magic and Podziemski’s Go-Ahead Three
The third quarter featured the game’s most memorable individual exchange.
With the Lakers leading 69–63, Curry shook Dončić with a sharp move that sent the Lakers star to the floor before drilling a step-back three.
Dončić answered immediately with a three-pointer of his own, restoring Los Angeles’ advantage to 72–63.
But the Warriors weren’t going away.
Golden State continued finding open looks from beyond the arc, while the Lakers struggled to maintain the offensive rhythm that had carried them through the opening quarter.
Yaxel Lendeborg connected on a three-pointer to bring Golden State within 76–75.
Then Podziemski delivered one of the biggest shots of the night.
His three-pointer put the Warriors ahead 82–80, giving Golden State its first lead since the opening 2–0 score.
After trailing by as many as 25 points, Golden State had completed the comeback before the fourth quarter even began.
Fourth Quarter: Golden State Finishes the Job
Taking the lead was impressive. What Golden State did afterward was even more convincing.
The Warriors continued extending their advantage, eventually turning a 25-point deficit into a double-digit lead.
Curry remained the focal point of the offense, but Golden State’s supporting cast continued contributing. Podziemski’s scoring and playmaking, Melton’s bench production and Green’s passing helped prevent Los Angeles from mounting another comeback.
The Lakers, meanwhile, couldn’t find an answer.
Dončić had carried much of the scoring burden, while Reaves contributed 21 points, but the rest of the offense struggled to provide enough support.
Golden State’s defense also forced turnovers and disrupted the Lakers’ possessions, making it increasingly difficult for Los Angeles to generate quality looks.
By the final buzzer, the Warriors had completed a stunning 112–95 victory.
A game that began with Golden State getting dominated ended with the Lakers suffering a 17-point defeat.
EST Takeaways
Stephen Curry continues to defy expectations. Curry finished with 31 points, six assists and eight three-pointers on 14 attempts. His shot-making helped transform the game, and his spectacular move against Dončić was one of the night’s highlights.
The three-point disparity was enormous. Golden State shot 22-for-46 from deep, an impressive 48%, while Los Angeles managed just 11-for-39, or 28%. That difference helped the Warriors overcome their poor start.
Golden State’s ball movement made the difference. The Warriors finished with 31 assists compared with just 17 for Los Angeles. Green recorded nine assists, while Curry and Podziemski contributed six each.
The Lakers’ supporting cast struggled. Dončić scored 37 points and Reaves added 21, but no other Laker scored more than 10. Collin Sexton went scoreless on six attempts, and Los Angeles committed 22 turnovers.
Podziemski deserves his flowers. His 21 points and six assists were important, but his go-ahead three in the third quarter stands out as one of the game’s defining plays.
Golden State improves to 3–3, while Los Angeles falls to 4–2.
The Warriors didn’t merely recover from a terrible first quarter. They turned a 25-point deficit into a 17-point victory, completing a remarkable 42-point turnaround in the final margin.
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