Yaxel Lendeborg absolutely erupted for 37 points as the Golden State Warriors clawed their way to a 124-112 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. This wasn’t just any win, either. The Dubs pulled this off despite sitting Steph Curry and Draymond Green, and it finally pushed their record to 4-3, the first time they’ve seen a winning record since way back on March 8th of last season when they were 32-31. Lendeborg, the rookie 11th overall pick, is proving he’s capable of leading this team right now, not just sometime in the future.
Rookie Dominance: Yaxel’s Three-Level Scoring Explosion
The Clippers came out hot, pushing the pace early and taking advantage of Golden State’s cold three-point shooting to jump out to a 37-29 lead by the end of the first quarter. But Lendeborg refused to let the Warriors fold. He responded with a massive 14-point outburst in the second quarter, single-handedly turning the tide and helping Golden State grab a 63-57 halftime lead. This kid’s offensive game is just wild. He’s already the second most fluid offensive player on the roster. Forget what you expect from a rookie, because Lendeborg is blowing those expectations out of the water. His ability to use his size to attack openings when he gets going downhill is crazy, and his jump shot? Way more polished than anyone thought possible.
We saw a masterclass in three-level scoring on Sunday. There was one sequence where Lendeborg dropped a mid-range fadeaway, drained a catch-and-shoot three from the top of the key, and then, get this, broke a Clippers player’s ankles, sending him to the floor before drawing a foul on a layup. That’s three different ways to score in three plays! Even when the Clippers tried to get after him with Kris Dunn, who racked up 7 steals and wreaked havoc all day defensively, Lendeborg kept his cool and finished with just two turnovers. He capitalized on his size advantage, pushing defenders into the paint for easy buckets. When the Clips tried matching his strength, they ended up giving him too much space on the perimeter because they were so afraid of his drive, and he made them pay, hitting 6-for-8 from deep to start the game. Yeah, he forced a few late shots trying to hit 40, but who wouldn’t?
Early Season Statement and What’s Next
Lendeborg’s final line was a stat sheet stuffer: 37 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists on an insane 13-for-19 from the field. That 37-point explosion is the highest by a Warriors rookie since none other than Steph Curry dropped 42 in the final game of his rookie season. Think about that for a second. The kid is already making history. He wasn’t the only one contributing either, as De’Anthony Melton continued his hot shooting stretch and Brandon Williams added 12 points in the first half. Even though the Clippers’ deep bench went on a 13-0 run to cut the deficit at one point, it wasn’t enough to stop the Warriors from getting the W.
This early season performance from Lendeborg is more than just a good game, it’s a statement. It shows this team has serious firepower even with their stars on the bench. It’s a sign of what’s to come, and the rest of the league needs to take notice. When you have a rookie playing like this, the season suddenly looks a whole lot brighter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
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