Lakers Blow 25-Point Lead in NBA Cup Loss to Warriors

The Lakers led by as many as 25 points Friday night at Chase Center. They lost by 17. Golden State's 112-95 comeback win in the NBA Cup group stage opener was the defining storyline of the night, and it was a brutal one for anyone who backed Los Angeles.

Our premium pick sold subscribers on the Lakers as a -136 road favorite catching +2.5, built on the read that the gap between the 4-1 Lakers and the 2-3 Warriors was narrower than the price suggested. That side missed badly. Los Angeles didn't just fail to cover — it lost outright by double digits after building a lead that should have been safe. The pre-game profile flagged the Lakers' 113.6 OPPG as the number least to be trusted, and that concern played out as Golden State's 117.6 scoring average came alive after halftime.

What the result means for future picks: a 25-point lead is not a banked cover, and the Lakers' defensive profile deserves more weight than their record and point differential suggest. When scoring volume masks a leaky defense, the market can overprice a team — especially on the road in a Cup game. The Warriors, written off at 2-3, were the better side when it mattered. That's a lesson worth carrying into the next board.