The Warriors have already put in the extra summer work, and it’s showing in Las Vegas. Golden State is 2-1 in Summer League play there, with the benefit of multiple games in the California Classic before arriving in Vegas. On Thursday, they’ll face a Knicks team that has had a much thinner talent base to work with, even after New York won the NBA Finals in the 2025-26 season.
That roster reality has shaped the Knicks’ summer. Their last first-round pick was Pacome Dadiet in the 2024 NBA Draft, and this year’s Summer League group has leaned heavily on rookies Tyler Nickel and Jack Kayil. New York opened with two losses while struggling to get its offense going, then finally got into the win column against Detroit in its last game.
Even with that victory, the Knicks come in as 7.5-point underdogs against Golden State and No. 11 overall pick Yaxel Lendeborg. The former Michigan standout has been one of the better stories of the event, and his play has helped keep the Warriors in the mix for a semifinal spot in Vegas.
Lendeborg has already had plenty of big moments this summer, including a head-to-head battle with No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer in Golden State’s last game. He’s also been on the floor since the California Classic, so there’s at least a chance the Warriors could decide to give him a break at some point in Las Vegas, even with a semifinal berth still in play.
Still, the numbers tell the story of his summer. Lendeborg is averaging 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in Las Vegas, and he looks set for a major role with Golden State with Jimmy Butler expected to miss the start of the 2026-27 season because of a torn ACL.
The Knicks have had a tougher time generating offense. They’ve failed to reach 70 points in two of their three games in Las Vegas, and even in their win over Detroit, they didn’t get to 90. New York has tried to find different ways to create offense, giving Kayil more responsibility as a playmaker and shot creator while also using Mo Diawara on the ball frequently as he gets ready for his second NBA season.
There has been some defensive bite from the Knicks, too. They’ve held opponents under 80 points in back-to-back games in Las Vegas, which makes the total especially interesting here.
Golden State has been the more explosive team overall, scoring more than 100 points in two of its three Vegas games. But the Warriors were held to 85 in their last outing, and even if they get back into the triple digits, New York may not have enough offense to help this game climb over the number.
That makes the under the stronger angle in this matchup.
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