SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors coach Steve Kerr is not sure why rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is especially receptive to his instruction.
Kerr opined that perhaps the 24-year-old’s agreeability comes from his vast experience in the college ranks. Six years of collegiate hoops at three different schools of varying levels of acclaim have given him experiences a younger one-and-done player might not have.
Whatever the reason might be, Lendeborg is a sponge when it comes to doing what his coaches tell him to do. Coming off a six-point stinker with five turnovers against the Lakers, Lendeborg received his first taste of being the focus of defenses.
With Steph Curry and Draymond Green out Sunday against the Clippers to rest on the first night of a back-to-back, Lendeborg was the top priority for Los Angeles’ other team.
Having listened to Kerr and the coaching staff, he dominated. Lendeborg scored a career-high 37 points as the Warriors beat the Clippers 124-112 for their fourth consecutive victory. It was the most by a Warriors rookie since Eric Paschall in 2020.
During the preseason, Lendeborg made a habit of throwing himself into traffic on drives. Against the Lakers on Friday, he barely looked at the rim.
But against the same Clippers team that vexed him in the Warriors’ very first preseason game in Honolulu, Lendeborg was unrecognizable from the timid debutant who could barely stay in front of Rui Hachimura and didn’t look for his own shot.
Lendeborg made 6 of 11 3-pointers, dribbling into them when the Clippers gave him space to create and confidently letting the ball fly when left open on the catch. He also showed control when attacking the rim, drawing six free throws but avoiding the wild attempts that have haunted him.
There were still growing pains. After leading by 21 and sitting at 37 points, the Warriors tried to get Lendeborg his first 40-point game. While he missed three consecutive shots and his Warriors teammates threw up bricks, the Clippers went on a 16-4 run to cut the lead to just 118-110 with two minutes remaining.
Kerr subbed in veteran guard De’Anthony Melton, who hit two 3-pointers and restored order.
Melton (21 points) and Georges Niang started in lieu of Curry and Green. Brandin Podziemski scored 17 and had eight rebounds. Brandon Williams put up 17 points off the bench.
Golden State led 63-57 at halftime and stretched their lead to 21 late in the fourth quarter. The Warriors (4-3) will play host to the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
Center rotation
Draymond Green has started at center when healthy, but his absence gave Charles Bassey an opportunity to make his first start of the season, and just his fourth career appearance in the first five.
He responded with six points and 10 rebounds in 20 minutes, his loudest basket being an alley-oop dunk from Podziemski in the fourth quarter. Veteran center Al Horford also played 22 minutes off the bench, and he will not play against Phoenix on Monday.