Yaxel Lendeborg recorded 31 points and 12 rebounds as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Denver Nuggets 134-114 on Monday night at Ball Arena, earning their first win of the 2026-27 NBA season.
The rookie out of Michigan shot 9-for-19 from the field and 12-for-13 from the free-throw line, adding six assists and a block in 31 minutes. Lendeborg entered the game averaging 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds and helped Golden State avoid its first 0-4 start since the 2007-08 season.
The Warriors improved to 1-3 by shooting 54.1% from the field and making 22 of 44 three-point attempts. They also outrebounded Denver 45-32 and scored 74 points in the second half.
Stephen Curry finished with 24 points, making all eight of his field-goal attempts, including three three-pointers, and all five free throws. He scored 21 points after halftime as Golden State gradually pulled away. Brandin Podziemski added 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists while posting a game-high plus-33 rating. Gui Santos contributed 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting.
Golden State also welcomed Curry, Draymond Green and Podziemski back after they sat out the previous game in Phoenix. Green finished with three points and seven assists.
Denver kept the game close early, leading 32-28 after the first quarter, but Golden State responded with a 32-24 second period to take a 60-56 halftime advantage. The Warriors then scored 40 points in the third quarter to stretch their lead to 100-84 before adding another 34 in the fourth.
Nikola Jokic led Denver with 19 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. Jamal Murray also scored 19 points and dished out eight assists, while DeMar DeRozan added 21 points off the bench. Denver shot 50% from the field but made only 10 of 29 three-point attempts.
Jokic was taken out with 3:33 remaining and the Nuggets trailing by 21. Aaron Gordon scored seven points before receiving a double technical and leaving the court in the fourth quarter.
Denver was without Alpha Diallo, Cameron Johnson, Spencer Jones and Julian Strawther because of injuries. The loss dropped the Nuggets to 1-2.
The Warriors visit Minnesota on Wednesday, while Denver travels to New Orleans the same night.
