Stephen Curry shook his head. Another Warriors meltdown was in progress.

LeBron James’ corner 3-pointer over Donte DiVincenzo had extended the Lakers’ lead to 11 points midway through the third quarter. The TNT cameras panned from the swishing net to a frowning Curry dressed up in a white hoodie on the visiting bench.

Golden State had come within a bucket of the lead just minutes prior, but old habits kicked in. A few fouls and misses later, the Lakers were on an 18-5 run and pulling away for the 124-111 win.

There was no Curry able to suit up and save the Warriors.

Now Golden State is back below .500 at 29-30 entering Friday and 10th in the Western Conference with just 23 games to play. Having Curry eventually back next to Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and most of this championship core means a foot in the door is more than enough space to make a run at the Finals against a mediocre Western Conference, even as a play-in participant.

If the Warriors want to escape the play-in bracket — not to mention ensure they don’t miss the playoffs entirely — and re-establish their championship identity, they will need Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Gary Payton II playing together.

Of course, the delayed team reunion isn’t something that can be controlled. Curry will be out at least until March 1 with a left leg strain sustained on Feb. 4 against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Warriors wouldn’t have won the championship last season without all three players — which explains Golden State’s elaborate trade to re-acquire Payton from Portland at the deadline. They went on the 21-0 run and closed out Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Boston together.

With Curry on the court, the Warriors boast a 117.4 offensive rating that would rank second in the NBA behind Boston’s 118.2 rating. They have a 109.8 offensive rating with Curry on the bench, good for 27th in the NBA.

In the 32 games played with both Curry and Wiggins this season, the Warriors score 120.1 points per 100 possessions and allow 110.9, one of the top differentials in the league.

With Curry, Wiggins and Payton on the floor together last season, the Warriors averaged 114.5 points per 100 and allowed a stingy 103.2 on defense.

“There’s a lot of basketball left, believe it or not,” Thompson said. “I know we still have greatness ahead of us. Never not going to believe in this team. We’ve done too many great things not to.”