LOS ANGELES - Luka Doncic made sure Yaxel Lendeborg’s first real NBA dust-up came with a lesson attached.
Late in the first half Wednesday night at Crypto Arena, Lendeborg jumped out to bother Doncic on a deep heave to beat the buzzer. Doncic answered anyway, drilling the shot over him and then jawing right back. The rookie from Michigan tried to fire back, but Gui Santos and several veterans stepped in before things went any further.
The message from the Lakers star was hard to miss, even if the words were swallowed by the crowd: there are levels to this.
That exchange ended up being one of the night’s defining snapshots in a 127-105 Warriors loss in their season opener. Lendeborg, who had built a preseason reputation as a constant talker and celebration machine while averaging 15.6 points per game, got his first taste of the league’s response. Doncic, who finished with 28 points and had 20 in the first half, clearly enjoyed the back-and-forth.
The chirping really picked up with 2:28 left in the first half. Doncic got Lendeborg off his feet with a pump fake, spun away, and celebrated with claps.
A few possessions later, Lendeborg picked up his first career technical foul and responded with more clapping. In the end, the applause belonged to the Lakers.
Steph Curry gave the Warriors a strong early jolt and looked as healthy as ever in the process. He scored 16 of Golden State’s first 21 points, briefly carrying the offense before cooling off. He still finished with 23, which was the bright spot for a shorthanded group missing Brandin Podziemski because of back trouble and Charles Bassey with a knee issue.
Lendeborg contributed 12 points, while Brandon Williams added 14 off the bench with his speed giving the Warriors a needed spark. But the offense didn’t stay hot for long.
Golden State put up 33 points in the first quarter, then managed only 33 combined across the second and third quarters. By halftime, the Lakers were in control at 66-52.
The lead eventually stretched to as many as 34.
The problems started inside, where the Warriors had little answer for 7-foot-1 Walker Kessler. With Kristaps Porzingis out indefinitely and Bassey unavailable because of right knee tendinitis, Golden State’s center rotation was thinned to Draymond Green, Al Horford and Graham Ike.
Ike didn’t enter until late, and the veterans struggled badly. Horford and Green combined for just two points and eight rebounds.
Kessler punished that weakness all night. The former Woodward Academy teammate of Will Richard scored 26 points, hit all 12 of his shots, grabbed nine rebounds, blocked two shots and committed only one foul. It was a clean, efficient performance built on dunks and easy looks at the rim.
Turnovers made everything worse. The Warriors committed seven in the third quarter alone, and each one helped the game slip further away. Steve Kerr and the front office had made ball security a clear talking point, but for at least one night, the message didn’t stick.
At one point, after De’Anthony Melton’s turnover led directly to two easy Lakers fast-break points, Kerr’s frustration boiled over as he sprinted to the bench for a timeout.
The Lakers finished with 25 points off 16 Warriors turnovers, a number that helped turn an early fight into a lopsided season-opening loss. Golden State now has one day to regroup before its home opener against the Grizzlies.
In Other News...
Steve Kerr Had A Blunt Take On Warriors Rookies Tough Debut
Yaxel Lendeborgs NBA debut came with no easing-in period, as the Warriors rookie was thrown into the kind of assignment that can define a first impression. Against the Lakers, he was tasked with guarding Luka Doncic, and he handled a heavy workload with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes while navigating all the noise that comes with being matched up against one of the leagues toughest stars.
Steve Kerr viewed it as part of the learning curve for a young player being asked to defend at that level right away, and he also had a candid read on the technical foul Lendeborg picked up after trash-talking Doncic. For Golden State, the debut served as a reminder of how quickly rookies can be tested in real NBA minutes, and how little margin there is for error when the opponent is a player of Doncics caliber. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Face A Costly Win-Now Decision At Center
The Warriors are once again staring at a familiar roster question, this time in the middle of their search for more size and stability at center. Reports say Golden State has explored trade possibilities involving Kristaps Porzingis and Myles Turner, with talks having even included the Bucks, a sign the front office is at least testing the market for a major upgrade. The appeal is obvious: both players would change the look of the frontcourt and address a need that has lingered for some time.
The cost, however, is the part that makes this more than a simple deadline-style inquiry. Adding Turner would mean giving up draft capital, another player, and some future flexibility because of his contract, which puts the Warriors in the middle of the same win-now versus long-term debate that has shaped so many of their recent decisions. Milwaukees reported lack of interest only adds another layer to the uncertainty, leaving Golden State to weigh how much it is willing to sacrifice for a move that could alter both the present season and what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Rookie Sent A Message To Luka And Vets Loved It
Yaxel Lendeborg did not spend his first NBA game blending into the background. In his debut for the Warriors, the rookie found himself jawing with Luka Doncic on the court, a moment that fit the edge Golden State has long valued in its younger players. He also backed it up with a solid outing, finishing with 12 points and three rebounds even as the Warriors came up short against the Lakers.
Draymond Green and Stephen Curry both publicly had Lendeborgs back afterward, a notable sign of approval from two veterans who know plenty about competitiveness crossing the line into something more. For a rookie trying to establish himself in a locker room built around intensity and accountability, that kind of support matters. It also leaves the intriguing question of how far Lendeborg can carry that confidence the next time the lights get a little brighter. [Read more 🡒]