That was a game, ya’ll. Stephen Curry delivered a 37-point performance while rookie Brandin Podziemski erupted for a career-high 28 points (22 in the first half), leading the Golden State Warriors to a 123-116 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
Podziemski stole the spotlight with a career-best eight three-pointers, providing crucial support on a night when Curry shot just 4-of-11 from beyond the arc. The two-time MVP was coming off a historic 52-point explosion against Memphis just two nights prior.
LeBron James started a bit slow but paced the Lakers with 33 points and nine assists, while Austin Reaves caught fire with 31 points, including nine three-pointers. Rui Hachimura contributed 24 points, but Luka Doncic struggled a tad, finishing with 19 points while missing all six of his three-point attempts.
The Lakers made a late push, cutting the deficit to 105-99 after a Doncic basket. But Curry and Podziemski responded with consecutive threes, and though James and Reaves answered with deep shots, the Warriors maintained control down the stretch.
That thrilling third-quarter duel was something. James scored 12 of his team’s 14 points to trim Golden State’s lead to single digits after trailing by 16 earlier. Curry then took over, reeling off 13 straight points before sinking three free throws to give the Warriors an 88-77 advantage heading into the fourth.
Golden State managed the win despite Jimmy Butler’s quiet night. He finished with just 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting—well below his season average of 17.3 points per game. The Warriors’ balanced attack proved too much for the Lakers as they continued their late-season surge.