Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg scored 37 points against the Clippers on Sunday, but his pursuit of a 40-point finish brought an early end to his night. Coach Steve Kerr sent him to the bench with 2:14 remaining after a series of missed shots helped the Clippers threaten a lead that had appeared comfortable.
Lendeborg finished with an 85% true shooting mark, made six of his 11 attempts from 3-point range and contributed six assists. His performance helped the Warriors earn their fourth consecutive victory after beginning the season with three losses. The closing stretch, however, gave both the rookie and his coach something to address afterward.
The Clippers reduced a 21-point deficit to eight over a two-minute period in which Lendeborg missed three 3-pointers. Kerr said Golden State lost its offensive rhythm when players on the bench began urging the rookie to reach 40. In the coach’s view, continuing to move the ball and play within the offense could have allowed Lendeborg to reach the milestone without forcing attempts.
Kerr described the episode as a lesson for the entire team as well as Lendeborg. He said the encouragement reflected how much the players liked their rookie and wanted him to succeed, but it also disrupted their approach. He emphasized how quickly NBA leads can disappear and said maintaining the normal flow of play makes the game easier.
After Lendeborg came out, Melton hit consecutive 3-pointers to help Golden State secure the result. Lendeborg accepted responsibility afterward, saying he had allowed teammates’ encouragement to influence his decisions. He said his play over the final two to three minutes did not match the efficient basketball he valued and promised to handle a similar situation differently.
Explaining how the chase began, Lendeborg said Melton reminded him that he needed only three more points and offered to get him the ball. The rookie initially resisted but eventually agreed to shoot. He said Will Richards also encouraged him to pursue the milestone, adding to the pressure he felt from teammates.
Lendeborg connected those decisions with the Clippers’ comeback, saying their run of 3-pointers nearly cost Golden State the game. He said he would stay within the offense next time and accept whatever scoring total followed. Seven games into his NBA career, the rookie left another productive performance acknowledging that the desire for a personal milestone had briefly compromised his decision-making.
