Full Breakdown
Yaxel Lendeborg and Steph Curry Power Warriors to First Win of 2026-27 Season
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In this breakdown
01
Core Event: Warriors Break 0-3 Start with 134-114 Victory Over Nuggets
Golden State snapped a three-game losing streak with a 20-point blowout of Denver. Rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg posted a game-high 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, while veteran guard Stephen Curry delivered a perfect shooting night—8-for-8 from the field, 3-for-3 from three-point range and 5-for-5 from the line—for 24 points. The win moved the Warriors to 1-3 and set up a road matchup against Minnesota later in the week.
02
Background & Context
The Warriors entered the 2026-27 campaign with a depleted roster; injuries and load-management kept Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford and other veterans off the bench in the opening loss to Phoenix. Head coach Steve Kerr emphasized protecting veteran health amid a compressed schedule, noting that “the schedule is what it is.” The team’s early struggles heightened the spotlight on the 24-year-old No. 11 draft pick, who had drawn attention for his trash-talk against Luka Doncic in the season-opening loss to the Lakers.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
03
Data & Statistics
- Lendeborg’s first-four-game averages: 21.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists.
- In the win over Denver: 31 points on 9-of-19 shooting, 12 boards, six assists, and 12-of-13 free throws (USA Today; Mercury News).
- Curry’s line: 24 points on 8-of-8 field goals, 3-of-3 three-pointers, 5-of-5 free throws—his second career perfect-shooting game, the first in 2011 (Heavy; ClutchPoints).
- Lendeborg became the first rookie since Larry Bird (1979-80) to amass at least 70 points, 30 rebounds and 15 assists in his first four NBA games.
04
Official Statements & Responses
Stephen Curry praised Lendeborg’s composure and size, calling the rookie a “full package.”
Steve Kerr highlighted the tactical adjustment that allowed the team to capitalize on the flow, reiterating that minutes will continue to be guided by performance and medical staff.
Draymond Green stressed that the team’s success hinges on outworking execution errors.
05
Verbatim Quotes
- “He's just got composure and feel. His size on the court — he's a matchup problem. He's never really in a hurry,” — Steph Curry
- “We made a slight adjustment on our playcalls, but I just stayed locked in to the flow of the game,” — Steph Curry
- “He’s got to figure that out, and he will because he has this amazing skill set,” — Steve Kerr, Warriors head coach
- “How you outplay execution errors is to outwork them,” — Draymond Green
06
What's Next
Golden State travels to Minneapolis for a Wednesday night contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves, seeking to extend the momentum generated by Lendeborg’s breakout performance and Curry’s perfect shooting display.