The past, present and future of the Warriors aligned Monday night in the Mile High City to get their first win of the 2026-27 NBA season in dominant fashion.
Yaxel Lendeborg turned heads with 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in the Warriors’ 134-114 blowout win against the Denver Nuggets. His performance helped give the Warriors their first regular-season win at Ball Arena since March 10, 2022.
It took four games for the Warriors to finally be able to use the well-balanced starting five they stumbled upon in the preseason. Along with Lendeborg’s huge night, Steph Curry scored 24 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting for his first game without a miss since 2011.
From top to bottom, the starting five showed out. Brandin Podziemski was a plus-33 with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Gui Santos fought off a hurt knee and was a plus-18 from scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Though Draymond Green only scored three points, he dropped dimes to the tune of seven assists and played admirable defense in containing Nikola Jokić to 19 points.
Everything Steve Kerr wanted from his new 5-out offense came to fruition in Denver. The Warriors had 31 assists and made 22 threes.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ first win of the season.
Legendary Lendeborg
Shooting from long distance is just the cherry on top for Lendeborg. His first five tries didn’t fall, and yet he kept making an impact in a handful of other ways. Lendeborg went into halftime as the game’s leading scorer with 15 points, a team-high five rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot as a plus-11.
The highlight of the first half belonged to the Warriors rookie when he chased down Christian Braun to block his shot at the rim, sprinted the floor and finished on the other side. At his size, and with his athleticism, the sequence was the perfect example of the two-way impact Lendeborg can provide the Warriors.
By the 1:49 mark of the third quarter, Lendeborg already had his second double-double of his young NBA career when he inhaled his 10th rebound. He then went the other way and was fouled at the rim. Lendeborg made both of his free throws. His physicality took over in the final minutes of the third quarter while the Warriors closed on an 11-2 run for a 16-point lead.
Lendeborg became only the third Warriors rookie to ever have at least 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in a game. The other two? Rick Barry and Wilt Chamberlain.
Earning His Money
The Warriors’ first win of the season was another rough day at the office for the online community that revels in hating on Podziemski. There wasn’t much to hate on this time. There was plenty to applaud, though.
Podziemski began the game super aggressive, letting three flies and still staying within himself. He flew around the court defensively, crashed the glass and took care of the ball. On a night where Curry was the main man from the opening tip, Podziemski, as well as Lendeborg, carried the torch.
This kind of in-rhythm jump shot off the dribble shows the growth Podziemski has made, and who he can be as a scorer.
And the Warriors’ 5-out offense that creates room for cutters was on full display right here between Podziemski and Green.
Last season, Podziemski averaged 17.7 points per game when he attempted at least six 3-pointers. On Monday night, he reached 18 points going 3 of 7 from deep. In two games this season, Podziemski has proven to take a leap.
Third-Quarter Curry Flurry
Days of the Warriors coming out of halftime and boat racing teams feels like a decade ago. Curry on Monday night singlehandedly brought that feeling back.
After an incredibly quiet first half, Curry couldn’t be stopped in the third quarter. With the Warriors leading by four points at the half, Curry only had three points on one shot attempt – a made three from the right wing. The Warriors didn’t need an aggressive Curry out of the gates.
But he knew they needed him to turn it on if they were going to get in the win column. So, he scored 17 points in seven minutes and all of the sudden had 20 points in a blink.
Curry in the third quarter scored from 27 feet out and 26 feet out beyond the arc. He drained a deep stepback jumper inside the arc and scored on three different types of layups. His full arsenal had the Nuggets lost.
They aren’t alone there, and this felt like the type of performance that really can get Curry and his teammates going for more of these nights in the immediate future.