TRENDING NFL Week 8 updates Gold Glove winners NFL Winners & Losers College Fantasy Waiver Wire Antonelli is youngest F1 champ Story by Story by Warriors' Yaxel Lendeborg continues to learn, one-up himself with 37 points in win over Clippers Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who scored 37 points, is fouled by the Clippers' Kobe Sanders while going for a layup during the first half Sunday at Chase Center. (Justine Willard/Associated Press) Luca Evans Mon, November 2, 2026 at 5:10 AM UTC About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is a young man who grew up watching the NBA off highlights, off viral moments, and yet Yaxel Lendeborg sold a clip Sunday night. A signature moment sat in front of him, late in this first half, sure to capture the masses. He came off a pick and split a double-team, freezing Clippers big man Isaiah Jackson so bad that Jackson fell to the hardwood, because a 6-foot-10 man has no business moving as fluid as Lendeborg does with a ball in his hands. The crowd at Chase Center swelled, suddenly, recognizing a flash. Lendeborg attacked - and then flung a layup off the corner of the rim. He drew a foul, at least. But, as written in ancient informal basketball lexicon, a hooper must finish a bucket for such a crossover to matter.
He bounded away, holding his head in his hands in very real anguish.
This was about the only thing Lendeborg did wrong - save for a couple third-quarter turnovers - in the best performance of his young Warriors career Sunday night, a 37-point masterpiece in an 124-112 win over the Clippers.
Lendeborg's sheer ability to input information and respond - within minutes, within days, within weeks - has earned him the trust of Golden State's veterans within a month, and a remarkably long leash for a 24-year-old rookie. It has bought him time through failure, too. The Warriors' entire roster intertwined to offer Lendeborg a verbal cushion after Luka Doncic came out for blood in Golden State's comeback win over the Lakers on Friday night, as Lendeborg looked rattled by early foul trouble: six points, one rebound, five turnovers in 24 minutes.
It was a remarkably timid performance, for a rookie whose complete unabashedness has taken the NBA - and online headlines - by storm. Lendeborg admitted postgame, too, that he has trouble not dwelling on struggles.
Externally, though, Golden State didn't pay the stinker much mind.
"It's all about the theme of him learning, trial-by-fire, going through the ups and downs in front of everybody," star Stephen Curry said, after Golden State's win over the Lakers. "It's a tough demand, but I think he's built for it, and I'm pretty sure he'll respond extremely well next game."
A clairvoyant, indeed. Lendeborg came out not overly aggressive, but in flow Sunday night, again handling a lion's share of ball-handling responsibilities with Curry and Draymond Green resting on the front end of a back-to-back. Lendeborg has had a habit of throwing his massive 6-foot-10 frame into the paint with little plan, and getting ripped in the process; no more, this night. He attacked Clippers guard Darius Garland on switches, drawing the defense into the paint and kicking. He played off two feet. The most telling Lendeborg first-half stat: three assists, no turnovers.
Then, predictably, came the flood. Lendeborg stepped into 3-pointers with the ease of a kid dropping a quarter into his piggy bank, firing off the catch with no hands in his face, firing off the catch with Clippers forward Rui Hachimura's 7-foot-2 wingspan directly in his face. A 14-point barrage came in the second quarter, and a couple more jumpers fell in the third, and Lendeborg jogged back shaking his head in mock disbelief after another fourth-quarter jumper over Hachimura rang true.
With a few minutes to play and a 20-point cushion, Lendeborg set about visibly hunting for 40. Three threes, though, hit off iron, his dismay apparent after each. The Clippers threatened for a moment, a barrage of threes cutting Golden State's lead to eight. And head coach Steve Kerr closed, for a final two minutes and a couple dagger threes from De'Anthony Melton, with Lendeborg on the bench.
There's more to San Francisco with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.
This article originally published at Warriors' Yaxel Lendeborg continues to learn, one-up himself with 37 points in win over Clippers .
Source: Sports
