Warriors Player Ratings: Curry Starts In Huge Second-Half Comeback Win Against Lakers

The Golden State Warriors turned a game that was too comfortable for the Los Angeles Lakers into a frustrating night for their California rivals. The Lakers had Austin Reaves doing just about everything offensively , but the Warriors countered with a strong team performance. Stephen Curry finished with 11 points on 3-9 shooting, so this was hardly a vintage scoring performance from the Warriors superstar. But Golden State received enough contributions from Brandin Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg , who each scored 17 points, while Charles Bassey controlled the interior with 12 rebounds and three blocks. De’Anthony Melton also made his presence felt defensively, recording seven steals in a disruptive performance that helped change the game’s momentum. The numbers tell the story of two teams that found very different ways to compete. The Lakers shot a respectable 43.4% from the field and grabbed 45 rebounds, but their 29 turnovers were damaging. Golden State shot just 39.3% overall and 28.0% from three-point range, yet it finished with 20 steals and took care of enough possessions to escape with a 101-89 victory. Let’s dive into the Warriors player ratings after an impressive comeback victory. Yaxel Lendeborg: A- Game Stats: 17 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 1 TOV, 5-11 FG, 1-4 3-PT FG, 6-9 FT, 26 MIN Lendeborg continues to look like a player who can make things happen without needing the offense built entirely around him. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, giving Golden State production on both ends of the floor. His three-point shooting was not particularly sharp, and he left three free throws at the line. Still, Lendeborg found other ways to impact the game, and his all-around contribution was a major part of Golden State’s comeback. Brandin Podziemski: A- Game Stats: 17 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 TOV, 6-12 FG, 3-7 3-PT FG, 2-5 FT, 26 MIN Podziemski delivered when Golden State needed reliable scoring. He matched Lendeborg with 17 points, knocked down three three-pointers, and added five rebounds while committing just one turnover. The biggest blemish was his free-throw shooting, as he made only two of five attempts. But his perimeter production helped keep the Warriors within striking distance, and he finished with a team-best plus-seven among the starters. De’Anthony Melton: A- Game Stats: 8 PTS, 1 REB, 3 AST, 7 STL, 1 TOV, 3-6 FG, 1-3 3-PT FG, 1-2 FT, 21 MIN Seven steals in 21 minutes? That is the sort of defensive performance that can completely change a game. Melton was a menace in the passing lanes, disrupting the Lakers’ possessions and helping Golden State turn defensive pressure into opportunities. He also added eight points and three assists while shooting 50.0% from the field. His five personal fouls were a downside, but the defensive impact was impossible to ignore. Melton did not need to score 20 points to make a major difference. Charles Bassey: A- Game Stats: 8 PTS, 12 REB, 1 AST, 3 BLK, 5 TOV, 3-5 FG, 2-2 FT, 27 MIN Bassey gave the Warriors a strong interior presence, collecting 12 rebounds and swatting three shots. He was efficient as a scorer, making three of his five field-goal attempts and both free throws. The five turnovers are a significant concern, particularly for a center handling possessions around the basket. But his rebounding and rim protection were valuable against a Lakers team that had productive minutes from Walker Kessler. Gui Santos: B Game Stats: 10 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 1 BLK, 3 TOV, 2-6 FG, 2-6 3-PT FG, 4-4 FT, 24 MIN Santos gave Golden State a little bit of everything, finishing with 10 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a block. He also made all four of his free throws, helping compensate for a 2-6 shooting night from the field. His three turnovers prevented this from being a cleaner performance, and he struggled to find consistency from the perimeter. Nevertheless, Santos contributed across several areas and helped the Warriors get production beyond their headline names. Will Richard: B Game Stats: 9 PTS, 1 REB, 2 STL, 1 TOV, 3-5 FG, 3-4 3-PT FG, 15 MIN Richard made his minutes count. He scored nine points, knocked down three of four attempts from three-point range, and recorded two steals in 15 minutes. That combination of perimeter efficiency and defensive activity was exactly what Golden State needed from its bench. He did not have to dominate the ball to provide a meaningful boost, and his shooting helped stretch the floor. A solid B-grade cameo. Stephen Curry: B- Game Stats: 11 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 3 TOV, 3-9 FG, 3-7 3-PT FG, 2-2 FT, 23 MIN Curry did not have a particularly efficient night, finishing with 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting. But he still knocked down three three-pointers, made both free throws, and added a steal in 23 minutes. For a player capable of taking over a game offensively, the scoring output was modest. The Warriors needed others to shoulder more of the burden, and they did exactly that. Curry’s presence remains important even when the shots are not falling, but this was more of a supporting performance than a signature one. Gary Payton II: B- Game Stats: 6 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 3-7 FG, 0-4 3-PT FG, 0-2 FT, 17 MIN Payton brought defensive energy, recording two steals and four rebounds while avoiding turnovers. He also scored six points on 3-of-7 shooting. The shooting outside the arc was rough, as he missed all four three-point attempts and both free throws. But Payton’s value has never depended entirely on his jump shot. Graham Ike: B- Game Stats: 6 PTS, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 TOV, 2-3 FG, 2-2 FT, 12 MIN Ike was efficient in a limited role, scoring six points on just three field-goal attempts and converting both free throws. He added three rebounds and a steal in 12 minutes. He did not have a huge statistical footprint, but he made good use of his opportunities and gave Golden State useful bench minutes. It was a tidy performance from a reserve who did not need to force anything. Brandon Williams: C+ Game Stats: 6 PTS, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 TOV, 2-8 FG, 1-5 3-PT FG, 1-1 FT, 15 MIN Williams had an uneven night shooting the basketball, making just two of eight field-goal attempts. He did knock down a three-pointer, convert his only free throw, and add two assists and a steal. The efficiency was not there, and he failed to grab a rebound in 15 minutes. Still, Williams contributed a few useful plays without turning the ball over repeatedly. It was a mixed performance rather than a disastrous one. Georges Niang: D+ Game Stats: 1 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 3 TOV, 0-5 FG, 0-5 3-PT FG, 1-2 FT, 19 MIN Niang struggled to find his shot, missing all five field-goal attempts, including five from beyond the arc. He finished with just one point and committed three turnovers in 19 minutes. He did contribute two rebounds, two assists, and a steal, but Golden State needs his shooting to be a weapon. On this night, it was not. His supporting contributions helped a little, but the struggles were too significant to overlook. Malevy Leons: N/A Game Stats: 2 AST, 1 STL, 0-4 FG, 0-3 3-PT FG, 7 MIN Leons did not score and missed all four field-goal attempts in seven minutes. However, he handed out two assists, recorded a steal, and avoided turnovers. The small sample makes this difficult to judge too harshly. He was unable to convert his shooting chances, but he made a few useful plays in a limited role. LJ Cryer: N/A Game Stats: 2 PTS, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 5 MIN Cryer scored two points in five minutes, making his only two-point attempt while missing his lone three-point try. He did not turn the ball over, but there was little time for him to make a larger impact. A quiet appearance, with no major mistakes and not enough production to earn a higher grade. Dalen Terry: C Game Stats: 1 AST, 1 STL, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3-PT FG, 5 MIN Terry missed his only shot but recorded an assist and a steal in five minutes. He kept possession clean and made a couple of small contributions in a very limited stint. There is not much to evaluate here. He did not score, but he also did not commit a costly mistake during his brief time on the floor.