The Golden State Warriors keep finding answers, even with a shortened rotation, and this time the Los Angeles Clippers were the ones left chasing. Golden State rolled to a 124-112 win behind a huge night from Yaxel Lendeborg and a blistering shooting performance from De’Anthony Melton.
Lendeborg led the way with 37 points, six rebounds and six assists on 13-for-19 shooting. Melton added 21 points and knocked down 6 of 9 shots. Brandin Podziemski chipped in 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, giving the Warriors another steady all-around performance.
Golden State shot 53.5% from the field and 44.9% from three, while building a 22-point lead along the way. The Clippers did hit 14 threes and shot 94.7% at the free-throw line, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the Warriors’ efficiency and ball movement.
Lendeborg was the headliner from the start. He turned in one of his best games of the season, scoring from everywhere and doing it with efficiency.
He went 6-for-11 from deep and made 5 of 6 free throws, giving Golden State a scorer who could bend the defense in more than one way. The Clippers had no real answer for him, even with Rui Hachimura putting up 24 points on the other side.
Melton’s night was just as important in a different way. He was perfect from long range, hitting all six of his three-point attempts while finishing 6-for-9 overall.
He also added six rebounds, three assists and two steals. That kind of clean, efficient scoring gave the Warriors the perimeter punch they needed and kept the floor open for everyone else.
Podziemski kept the offense humming. He didn’t force the issue, and that mattered.
His eight assists helped Golden State finish with 32 total assists to the Clippers’ 22, and he paired that with eight rebounds and only one turnover in 37 minutes. The Warriors also won the rebounding battle 44-42, with Podziemski doing his part to keep possessions alive.
The numbers told the story clearly. Golden State made 22 threes to the Clippers’ 14, a difference that turned into 24 more points from beyond the arc. The Warriors also scored 20 fast-break points and got 14 points off turnovers, while Los Angeles tried to hang around with strong individual efforts from Hachimura, Gradey Dick, who had 16 points, and Darius Garland, who finished with 15 points and seven assists.
In the end, Golden State’s offense was simply too balanced, too efficient and too hard to contain. Even without a full roster, the Warriors found a way to outlast the Clippers again.
In Other News...
Clippers Just Got A Harsh Look At Golden States New Threat
The Clippers got a first-hand reminder that Golden State may have another young scorer worth tracking in Yaxel Lendeborg. The Warriors rookie put up 37 points against Los Angeles, the highest total by a Golden State rookie since Steph Currys 2009-10 season, and he did it while playing 34 minutes and adding 4 rebounds and 6 assists. For a Clippers team trying to measure itself against the West's better clubs, that kind of breakout from a first-year player stands out.
Steve Kerr did not sound surprised by the burst, and his postgame view only adds to the intrigue around Lendeborgs early rise. The Warriors coach praised what he has already shown while also making clear there is still plenty of room for growth, which is exactly the sort of warning sign opponents do not love hearing in November. For the Clippers, it was a harsh look at a new threat, and perhaps only the first one. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Get A Huge Opening Against A Shorthanded Warriors Team
The Clippers are set to catch a break against Golden State, with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green expected to sit out the matchup as the Warriors continue to manage their veterans carefully. Steve Kerr confirmed the plan after consulting with the teams medical staff and the players, keeping the approach centered on rest and recovery rather than pushing either star into another game too soon.
It leaves Los Angeles facing a version of the Warriors that will look different in a meaningful way, even if Golden State still insists on staying competitive through the wear and tear of the season. Curry also addressed Jimmy Butlers ongoing recovery from an ACL injury, a reminder that the Warriors bigger challenge remains balancing health with the need to keep pace while key pieces come and go. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Defensive Problems Exposed Again By Warriors Breakout Night
The Clippers ran into another rough defensive night as Golden State kept rolling, extending its winning streak with a 124-112 result that never really let Los Angeles settle in. The Warriors got a breakout performance from rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who was everywhere offensively and set the tone for a group effort that kept the Clippers chasing for much of the night.
DeAnthony Melton and Brandin Podziemski each played important supporting roles, while Charles Bassey, Brandon Williams and Al Horford all chipped in to keep the pressure on. For the Clippers, the bigger concern is less the final margin than the pattern it reflects, with too many opponents finding ways to create clean looks and control stretches of the game against them. [Read more 🡒]