Curry knocks down Doncic (literally) and leads the Warriors' historic comeback
The San Francisco team erased a 25-point deficit against the Los Angeles team
There is one play in this game that will stand above the rest and perhaps above most of those made throughout the season. With 6:22 left in the third quarter and the score at 60-69, Curry goes up against Doncic outside the arc, challenges him, makes him dance, then knocks him to the floor and finishes humiliating him with a sensational three-pointer, with the Slovenian at his feet . It is the play that sums up the game the Warriors ended up winning, 112-95 , despite trailing by 25 points at the end of the first quarter.
Curry is a magician who enjoys playing. And as long as he feels that "tingle," he will remain an unstoppable player. Against the Lakers he led a 25-point comeback (15-40) to end up winning, setting several marks along the way.
The Lakers came out strong and took the first quarter, 15-38 . That lead trimmed by the Warriors became the biggest comeback in the shot-clock era by a team trailing by 20 or more at the end of the first quarter. On March 4, 1976, the Warriors themselves were down 41-18 at the end of the opening period and ended up winning. " It has to be said that 25 points are the new 12 . We’re seeing these comebacks almost routinely," said Steve Kerr, Warriors coach, at the end of the game.
But also with his 31 points , Curry has become the eighteenth highest scorer of all time, surpassing a legend like Doiminique Wilkins (26,668).
Luka Doncic put on a show in the first quarter: 21 points on 7 of 12 shooting (five three-pointers), five assists and a couple of steals . He finished with 37 points and right in the picture of the game. The loss was not his fault, although the 7/12 from the first quarter turned into 5/14 over the rest of the game.
Curiously, the 15-38 first quarter in favor of the Lakers was answered by a 38-15 from the Warriors in the second period to reach halftime tied. The Warriors did not have to wait long to come back; their horrible start to the game was neutralized in a single quarter: 53-53. At that moment, the Warriors crowd was shouting " Luka sucks" (Luka sucks).
The team from San Francisco, who also had Podziemski with 21, Melton with 16 and Ni a ng with 11 (and three starters, Green, Santos and Lendeborg who barely combined for 10 between them), built their victory on the 27-15 in the final quarter with Curry already taking over the game. He scored eight points in the third period and nine in the fourth.
For the Lakers (11 of 39 from three), besides Doncic , Reaves also played well, with 21 and little else. Among the seven bench players, they only contributed seven points ( Mamukelashvili 4 and Grimes 3), but the Georgian, for example, finished with a -23 in his team's +/-.
