Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg scored a career-high 37 points as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 124-112 on Sunday night at Chase Center, extending their winning streak to four games.
Lendeborg shot 13-of-19 from the field and made six of 11 three-pointers while adding six assists. He delivered the performance with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green resting ahead of Monday’s game against Phoenix.
The rookie scored five consecutive points midway through the third quarter to help Golden State build an 83-68 lead. His 37 points were the most by a Warriors rookie since Curry scored 42 against Portland on April 14, 2010.
Lendeborg also joined Wilt Chamberlain and Rick Barry as the only Warriors players to record multiple 30-point games within their first seven games with the franchise. Sunday marked his fourth game with at least 20 points, following a difficult outing against the Lakers on Friday when he fouled out.
De’Anthony Melton added 21 points, shooting 6-of-8 from three-point range, while Brandin Podziemski recorded 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Brandon Williams contributed another 17 points off the bench as Golden State’s reserves combined for 40.
The Warriors shot 53% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc, making 22 three-pointers. They also recorded 32 assists, compared with 22 for Los Angeles.
Rui Hachimura led the Clippers with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while Kobe Sanders scored 16 off the bench. Darius Garland finished with 15 points and seven assists, but Los Angeles suffered its fifth consecutive defeat and fell to 1-5.
The Clippers opened with a 37-point first quarter and led 37-29 after 12 minutes. Golden State responded with a 34-20 second quarter to take a 63-57 halftime advantage and maintained control after the break.
Both teams played the first game of a back-to-back. The Clippers host Toronto on Monday, while the Warriors welcome the Phoenix Suns.
