Yaxel Lendeborg followed up Friday’s dud with a performance that had the Warriors buzzing again Sunday night.
The 11th overall pick powered Golden State to its fourth straight win, torching the L.A. Clippers for a career-high 37 points in a 124-112 victory. He added four rebounds and six assists, and did it with the kind of shot-making that makes a young player look far older than his seven-game résumé suggests.
With Stephen Curry and Draymond Green resting, Lendeborg handled the lead role and delivered in style. He shot 13-of-19 from the field and 6-of-11 from three-point range, and those numbers actually dipped late as he went hunting for a 40-point night. Instead, he settled for 37, which still marked his fourth game of at least 26 points in the last five.
The deep shooting stood out most. Lendeborg hit threes both off the catch and off the dribble, and the Warriors’ offense kept humming without Curry and the injured Jimmy Butler - a look that has been rare in recent seasons. For a rookie who is less than two weeks into his career, he already looks like a central piece of the offense.
He also cleaned things up after Friday’s five-turnover outing against the Lakers, finishing with just two giveaways and a plus-6 in fewer than 34 minutes. The bigger picture mattered too: Golden State moved above .500 for the first time this season.
Lendeborg wasn’t carrying the load alone. De’Anthony Melton knocked down six threes on his way to 21 points, six rebounds and three assists, shooting 6-of-8 from deep. Brandon Williams added 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting off the bench, and Brandin Podziemski chipped in 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Golden State finished 22-of-49 from three, good for 44.4 percent, and now turns to Monday night’s home matchup with the Phoenix Suns, when Curry and Green are expected back.
In Other News...
Jonathan Kuminga Is Finally Getting A Chance Warriors Fans Wanted
Jonathan Kuminga is getting the kind of offensive runway that can change the conversation around a young wing, and it comes at a time when the Timberwolves have needed someone to pick up the slack. After signing a two-year, $12.4 million contract with Minnesota, Kuminga has seen his role on offense expand since Anthony Edwards went down with a knee injury, and the extra touches have naturally pushed his field-goal attempts upward.
For Warriors fans who spent years wanting to see more of that freedom, it is at least a reminder of what Kuminga can look like when the offense is built around his aggression. Minnesota has dropped its last three games without Edwards, so the stakes around Kumingas expanded role are real, even if the bigger question is whether this stretch turns into something more lasting once the lineup gets healthy again. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Face A Costly Lauri Markkanen Decision
The Warriors have spent plenty of time in the rumor mill around Lauri Markkanen, and it is easy to see why. A front office trying to keep Stephen Curry in the kind of position he has long enjoyed would naturally look at a versatile scorer like Markkanen as a fit, especially if the goal is to add another big offensive piece without asking Curry to carry everything himself.
But the price tag is what makes this one tricky. Markkanens contract is a real hurdle, and Utah is expected to demand a meaningful haul in return, which means any deal would likely require Golden State to part with a mix of players and draft capital. There are scenarios being discussed, but for now it remains one of those big-name possibilities that could reshape the roster or simply stay in the category of expensive what-ifs. [Read more 🡒]
Jimmy Butler Just Added To Warriors Fans Luka Enjoyment
Stephen Currys latest standout night against Luka Doncic gave Warriors fans plenty to enjoy already, and Jimmy Butler added a little more fuel to the moment afterward. Golden States 112-95 win over the Los Angeles Lakers featured Curry scoring 31 points and delivering a highlight play against Doncic, a sequence that quickly became one of the games most talked-about moments.
Butler then shared an AI-generated video on social media that playfully cast Curry as a martial arts master, turning the on-court exchange into a bit of online theater. The post picked up plenty of attention soon after the game, giving Warriors fans another reason to savor a win that already had the kind of edge and star power that tends to linger well beyond the final buzzer. [Read more 🡒]