The Golden State Warriors desperately needed a spark after opening the 2026-27 NBA season with three consecutive defeats. On Monday night in Denver, they found one in an increasingly familiar face: rookie sensation Yaxel Lendeborg.
The 24-year-old forward delivered the best performance of his young NBA career, exploding for 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists to lead Golden State to an impressive 134-114 road victory over the Denver Nuggets.
In just his fourth regular-season appearance, Lendeborg looked remarkably comfortable against one of the Western Conference’s most talented teams, combining physical drives, aggressive rebounding and impressive playmaking with the confidence of a seasoned veteran.
Perhaps most notably, the rookie repeatedly attacked Denver’s defense rather than settling for difficult jump shots. His willingness to initiate contact and challenge defenders resulted in 13 free-throw attempts, of which he converted 12.
@opencourtYAXEL LENDEBORG WAS PHENOMENAL 🔥 What a showing for the rookie. 31 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists in the W over Denver. 😤♬ original sound – OpenCourt-Basketball
It was another remarkable step forward for the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, who has quickly emerged as one of the most intriguing newcomers in the league.
After scoring 12 points in his debut against the Los Angeles Lakers, Lendeborg followed up with 18 points, 13 rebounds and six assists against Memphis. He then recorded 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists against Phoenix, knocking down six three-pointers in the process.
Monday’s performance represented another significant improvement, giving him 87 points through his first four NBA games while further demonstrating his ability to contribute across multiple statistical categories.
And this time, his individual brilliance finally translated into a victory.
Despite falling behind by eight points early, Golden State recovered to establish a 60-56 halftime advantage before taking complete control in the third quarter.
Stephen Curry delivered a flawless shooting performance, scoring 24 points without missing a single shot. The two-time MVP connected on all eight of his field-goal attempts and all five free throws, including a sensational 17-point third quarter that helped the Warriors pull away.
But while Curry provided the familiar superstar brilliance, Lendeborg gave Golden State something equally encouraging: a young player capable of creating offense, drawing fouls and producing at a high level without relying entirely on the team’s established veterans.
Brandin Podziemski contributed 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Gui Santos added 13 points and Al Horford scored 11.
Denver, meanwhile, struggled to match Golden State’s offensive efficiency. DeMar DeRozan led the Nuggets with 21 points, while Nikola Jokić finished with 19 points and 11 assists. Jamal Murray also scored 19.
The Warriors led 100-84 entering the final quarter and eventually extended their advantage to 24 points, securing their first victory of the season in convincing fashion.
