The Golden State Warriors finally notched their first win against the Denver Nuggets, a 134-114 road victory, and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg absolutely exploded for 31 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. It was easy to feel hopeless about the Warriors after their first three games, which saw injuries, blowouts, and some massive choke jobs, plus a feud between Lendeborg and a massively-talented, massively-whiny superstar. But on Monday night in Denver, everything clicked for the Warriors, and that confident rookie delivered against one of the Western Conference’s allegedly elite teams.
Lendeborg Takes Over, Curry Defies Officials
Lendeborg was the undeniable star of the show. While the Nuggets understandably keyed on Steph Curry early, Lendeborg confidently took charge, running the offense, scoring aggressively in the paint, and completely disrupting the Nuggets’ defense. He even drew fouls like a seasoned veteran, sinking an impressive 12-for-13 from the foul line. This kid wasn’t just playing; he was leading, showing exactly why he’s got that confident swagger.
Speaking of Steph, it was a very unique Curry game. He was totally content to pass out of double teams and facilitate for his teammates early on. Get this: Curry took exactly one shot in the first half, and yeah, he made it. More accurately, he made his first shot on a play where he was fouled before or while sinking a reverse layup, yet inexplicably didn’t get the continuation call. The Warriors got a side-out instead, and Curry’s response? He defiantly drained a three-pointer right in the refs’ faces. Most players hit big shots to shove it in the opponents’ faces, but Curry delivered a three-point middle finger to the officials. Then, in the third quarter, with the Nuggets defense perhaps lulled to sleep by his quiet first half, the Chef went off, dropping 17 points, shooting a perfect 6-for-6.
Bench Players Step Up Big Time
The Warriors really showed they have a solid rotation when their vets are available, and Coach Steve Kerr leaned heavily on his reserves off the bench. That gamble paid off with some seriously nice performances. Al Horford was super efficient, scoring 11 points in just 19 minutes and going a perfect 3-for-3 from deep. Georges Niang also sank three triples, adding to the offensive firepower. Even De’Anthony Melton, who had a tough shooting night going 1-for-6 from the field, still managed to finish +1 with four rebounds and three assists, including an excellent alley-oop to Lendeborg that might have just broken the Nuggets’ spirits for good. This win wasn’t just about the stars; it was a total team effort, and it was a statement after a rough start to the season.
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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