Curry just scored 44. So why is Friday still hard?
Follow the numbers. The answer is older than Curry.
What happened this week
- Wed, Oct 28. Warriors 119, Timberwolves 114. Curry hit 44 points and went 16 for 16 at the free-throw line. They led by 24.
- Wed, Oct 28. Jonathan Kuminga, now a Timberwolf, scored 20 against his old team. Anthony Edwards sat out.
- Sat, Oct 24. Rookie Graham Ike had his first double-double, 12 points and 10 rebounds. He sat out Wednesday.
Dates are local. ESPN lists games one day later (UTC). Sources: ESPN; Yahoo Sports (SB Nation, NY Post).
Biggest lead, Oct 28
Lakers lead, regular season
Last four meetings
Golden State has won two straight after losing by 22 and 9
Margin in points, Warriors view, last four games (the 2-3 record includes one earlier game not shown). Source: ESPN box scores.
Up 16 at halftime. Up 5 at the end.
Golden State led by as many as 24. Minnesota won the second half 66 to 55.
Lead after each quarter, Oct 28, 2026. Source: ESPN box score.
Next up
Stephen Curry
Luka Doncic
Lakers (4-1) at 
Warriors (2-3)Friday, Oct 30, 7 pm PT, Chase Center. It is the opener of NBA Cup group play. Doncic averages 36.0 points and is listed day-to-day with a back issue.
298 to 191
The Lakers lead across every game since 1948, counting playoffs and the 2021 play-in.
Golden State won more than half only in the 2010s
In the 2010s the Warriors won 21 of 39. Every other decade, the Lakers won more.
Warriors share of all games, including playoffs and the 2021 play-in. 2020s through Oct 21, 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, Land of Basketball.
Eight playoff series. Golden State won one.
The Warriors won four titles from 2015 to 2022. They did not meet the Lakers in the playoffs in any of those years. When they finally did, in 2023, Los Angeles won 4 to 2.
Games won in each series. Sources: Wikipedia, Land of Basketball.
Over 17 meetings the gap is small. The last four are the exception.
Across these 17 games the Warriors are 6-11, down 2.9 points a game. The last four losses are 6, 28, 16 and 22.
Regular season, Warriors view. Gold: Warriors win. Purple: Lakers win. Sources: Land of Basketball; ESPN for Oct 2026.
Lakers by 6, 28, 16, 22
That is 18.0 points a game. Take out the 28 and the other three still average 14.7.
Los Angeles is sixth in the West on scoring margin. Golden State is eleventh.
Average points scored minus allowed, first 3 to 4 games. Snapshot before the Oct 28 Warriors game. Source: ESPN standings.
Angle read: rivalry and history
Fact. Across all games since 1948 the Lakers lead 298 to 191. Golden State's only winning decade was the 2010s, 21 wins to 18. In the playoffs the Lakers have won seven of eight series. LA has now won four straight meetings by 18 points a game.
Interpretation. The 2010s look like the exception. Wednesday's 44 was real, but the Warriors still let a 24-point lead shrink to 5. Friday's opponent does not need Curry to cool off. It needs the old pattern to return.
Counter-case
Four games is a small sample. Over 17 meetings the gap is only 2.9 points a game, and the Warriors won three of four in 2023-24.
One outlet reported that Golden State won both October preseason games against LA, by 26 and 12, with Doncic out. He is listed day-to-day for Friday.
What to watch next
Fri, Oct 30, 7 pm PT. Lakers at Warriors, Chase Center, Prime Video.
The test. A Warriors win ends the streak at four and weakens this story. A win by 10 or more would be their first double-digit win in this series since Oct 2025.
Sources and claims log
- Box scores: ESPN. Wolves · Nuggets · Suns · Lakers
- Land of Basketball regular season log · playoff log · Wikipedia rivalry page
- Yahoo Sports, Wolves recap · Kuminga reunion · Graham Ike
- Cup schedule: NBA.com Warriors. Standings: ESPN.
Claims log: 21 claims. 16 verified, 2 contested, 3 unverified and left off this page. Gaps: the standings snapshot predates Wednesday's game, and the preseason result has one source.
Logos and headshots: ESPN. Not endorsed by the NBA or any team.
Curry just scored 44. So why is Friday still hard?
The Warriors face a team that has beaten them four times in a row. The answer is older than Curry. Follow the numbers.
First, last night
Golden State beat Minnesota 119 to 114. Curry scored 44 and never missed a free throw. It was their second win in a row.
But it nearly slipped away
They led by 24. Minnesota won the second half 66 to 55, and the lead shrank to 5. Hold that thought.
Four numbers to carry
Curry's 44. The 24-point lead. And two numbers about the Lakers, which come next.
Friday, the Lakers
Luka Doncic's team is 4-1. Golden State is 2-3. Across every game since 1948, Los Angeles leads 298 to 191.
Is it always this lopsided?
No. In the 2010s the Warriors won 21 of 39. It is the only decade since 1948 where they won more than half. So what happened after?
The playoffs tell the same story
Eight series. The Warriors won one, in 1967. Even in their title years they never met the Lakers in the playoffs.
Now the twist
Across 17 meetings the gap is small, 2.9 points a game. But the last four are not close: Lakers by 6, 28, 16 and 22.
Why the gap shows up now
The Lakers are sixth in the West on scoring margin at +8.0. The Warriors are at -3.5. That is an 11.5 point gap before anyone plays.
What it adds up to
The 2010s look like the exception. The older pattern is back, and Curry's big night did not change who won the last four.
Could we be wrong?
Yes. Four games is a small sample, and Doncic's back is a question mark.
The payoff is Friday
If Golden State wins, the streak ends at four. A win by 10 or more would be the first in this series since October 2025.