Yaxel Lendeborg’s NBA career is off to a historic start.
The Warriors rookie has been the team’s biggest bright spot early on in the 2026-27 NBA season, and he turned heads with a monster performance in Golden State’s 134-114 win over the Denver Nuggets on Monday at Ball Arena.
Lendeborg scored a career-high 31 points with 12 rebounds and six assists on 9-of-19 shooting from the field and 12 of 13 on free throws, becoming just the fourth player in NBA history (in the draft lottery era) to score 85-plus points with 35-plus rebounds in their first four games, per OptaSTATS, joining three Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers.
NBA players with 85+ points & 35+ rebounds in their first 4 career games in the draft lottery era (since 1985-86):
Lendeborg, through his first four games, also is outpacing Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Luka Dončić through the first four games of his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks.
Although the sample size is small, it’s clear the Warriors potentially have found something special in Lendeborg, who only will continue to make NBA history if he maintains his current trajectory.
His next test will be Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 26: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 26, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Monday morning, ESPN’s Hallie Grossman profiled Payton Pritchard in a piece entitled, “How Payton Pritchard became Boston’s unlikely iso king.” In the introduction, Grossman recounted a story during Pritchard’s 15-point performance in Game 3 of the Celtics first round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. He turned to the sideline to see 76ers legend Allen Iverson sitting courtside where AI uttered a sentence that was not only a reaction to the moment, but maybe just a proclamation of the future.
“You’re the coldest white boy I’ve ever seen,” Iverson said, high praise coming from one of the best undersized guards in NBA history.
It feels like divine intervention that this incredible quote dropped before Boston’s game against the Bulls because Pritchard made AI look like Nostradamus with his play. The “coldest white boy” finished with 28 points, 4 assists, and two steals on 10-16 shooting from the field and 7-10 shooting from three.
Payton Pritchard says that when the Celtics played the 76ers last season, Allen Iverson tapped him on the shoulder and delivered this message:
When asked about Payton Pritchard’s “heat checks” when he has things rolling, Joe Mazzulla decided to highlight his all-around game instead. “I don’t really consider those heat checks for him because he’s that good of an offensive player,” Mazzulla said. “He’s another guy that impacts winning in different ways. Tonight, you saw the scoreboard…But he’s been making plays defensively, his assists, his ability to make plays on both ends of the floor, so even if he’s not scoring, he’s still impacting winning at a high level.”
Pritchard was asked about Mazzulla’s reactions to his “heat checks” by saying, “I work on those shots, so it doesn’t really feel like a bad shot, and obviously it’s not if it goes in.” We know Pritchard practices these shots based on his offseason training routine, where he starts his day at 6:45 am at a local high school gym in Cape Cod with no air conditioning.
Payton Pritchard on Joe Mazzulla saying “heat checks” aren’t actually heat checks for him:
“I work on those shots, so it doesn’t really feel like a bad shot. And obviously it’s not if it goes in.” pic.twitter.com/DcZ9NLBQPF
“There’s just something about a humid gym,” Pritchard said, as he talked about the gym he used to work out in back in West Linn, Oregon that could reach up to 120 degrees in the summer. Pritchard said he loved the muck and that includes his competition. He recruited Division 2 and Division 3 college basketball players, international players, and hometown friends to play against. He would pay for them to drive down or fly across the country to the gym because he wants them to be hungry and give him their best one-on-one defense.
For two hours three times a week, Pritchard and his practice squad will go at it during the summer. Pritchard allows them to take breaks, but he doesn’t and will even buy them all Chipotle if he shoots under 60% on the day. That is the level of training that gets him ready to put up big-time performances like he did on Monday against the Bulls.
Pritchard’s third quarter was an electric sight to behold as he took over as the Celtics number one option after Jayson Tatum picked up his fourth foul of the game. At the 7:15 mark of the third quarter when Tatum checked out, Pritchard led the Celtics on a 31-11 scoring run over the Bulls to end the quarter. His biggest highlight was an isolation step-back three over Buddy Hield, who he crossed out of his shoes. The Bulls called a timeout, the Boston bench was going crazy, the TD Garden crowd was alive.
Payton Pritchard reminded everyone that he is that guy. Pritchard finished the third quarter with 19 points on 7-8 shooting from the field and 5-5 from three before subbing out for the rest of the game.
Pritchard’s big third quarter gave us a chance to see new free agent signing Mike Conley make his Celtics debut to start the fourth quarter. Ever since Media Day, it feels like Mike Conley and Payton Pritchard have been linked together at the hip. Pritchard has spoken in the past about what it was like working with Conley this offseason. In the ESPN article, Conley was asked about his thoughts on Pritchard who he called “a menace.”
“He’s an absolute crazy person when it comes to trying to improve his game,” Conley said.
In his first minutes in green, Conley finishing with 6 points and 2 steals on 2-2 shooting from three in 7 minutes of play. When asked about Conley postgame, Pritchard joked by saying, “I was telling him, like one of the back taps he had, I’m like he looked like a DB still. He’s just a freak.” He also praised Conley for being a great veteran presence, saying, “Such a good vet to be around, and somebody I am always pulling for regardless…for me to have somebody like that in my corner, it’s big.”
Payton Pritchard on Mike Conley making his Celtics debut:
“Just an unbelievable person, obviously still in unbelievable shape for his age. And I was telling him, like one of the back taps he had, I'm like he looked like a DB still. He’s just a freak.” pic.twitter.com/p0GSszscQR
The ESPN article finished with a quote from Pritchard that is a testament to all of the hard work that he has put in, “I can’t wake up and be Wemby.” It’s a simple quote but it’s a real quote. Pritchard is listed at 6’1” and has had to deal with a lot of different circumstances with the Celtics over his seven years in Boston.
He has gone from a reserve guy, to asking for a trade out of Boston, to NBA Finals buzzer beaters, to winning Sixth Man of the Year and to having a career season in 2025. Pritchard’s ability to outwork everyone else on the court at his size has led him to becoming the elite player that he is today and he is in store for what could be the best season of his NBA career.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 24: Arturs Silovs #37 of the Pittsburgh Penguins makes a save during the second period against the Nashville Predators at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It’s still a few days before we see the Pittsburgh Penguins back in action, but after looking at the injury list, no one will be complaining about the team getting an extra few days off to rest and recover. Bodies have been dropping all over for the Penguins as of late, and the less games they have to play while some of these guys heal up then it’s all for the better. In the meantime, fans will have to sit tight and hope once the Penguins do return to action on Thursday, some help arrives in the form of fresh bodies.
Pens Points…
Coming off a few tough weeks of hockey to begin the season, the Penguins are granted some much needed rest this week, getting four days off with only a pair of contests on the schedule later in the week. Adding to that, when action does resume, reinforcements could be coming as well. [Pensburgh]
It’s been a difficult start to the season for Rickard Rakell with only two goals to his name through the first 12 games. Saturday against Nashville was easily Rakell’s best game of the season to date and the kind of game the Penguins will need more out of their top line winger. [Pensburgh]
An array of injuries up and down the Penguins roster has opened opportunities for players being called up to make an impression. Although he’s waiting for his NHL debut, defenseman Chase Pietila is hoping to make the most of his time with the big club. [Trib Live]
NHL News and Notes…
An Edmonton Oiler not named Connor McDavid is the NHL’s First Star of the Week for the latest edition of the weekly honors. Leon Draisaitl went 6-3-9 for the Oilers this week to take home the top spot. Joining Draisaitl among the honorees were goaltenders Devin Cooley and Jacob Fowler. [NHL]
Connor Hellebuyck was granted his wish and has been traded away by the Winnipeg Jets. Now with his new team in New Jersey, Hellebuyck is back on the ice and ready to debut for the Devils, but the exact date for his big moment remains up in the air. [NHL]
Nations Championship games against Australia and Japan should be the end of experimentation for Steve Borthwick
Even on the most serene days no one would describe coaching England as a relaxing gig. With his side’s opening November Test looming on Sunday week, Steve Borthwick is already faced with assorted injury-related complications at precisely the moment he needs to start finding lasting answers to a range of fundamental selection questions.
The untimely training field absence of Fin Smith, pencilled in to be England’s starting No 10, is a prime example. With the two leading midfield candidates to face Australia – Seb Atkinson and Bernhard Janse van Rensburg – also unable to train this week, Smith’s calf injury has materialised at the worst possible moment. Add the Bath flanker Guy Pepper, who limped off against Gloucester last Friday, and suddenly there is a hint of pre-Halloween gloom hanging over England’s preparations.
Steve Smith’s return to South Africa for a Test series for the first time since Sandpapergate in 2018 came to a bizarre end with the neck issue he sustained in Gqeberha ruling him out of the deciding third Test in Cape Town.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the second inning during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Christopher Denver/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off their best season in a decade, and yet it still wasn’t enough. A big reason the club won 82 games in 2026 was because of the work they did last offseason. If the Pirates hope to repeat that kind of success they can’t hit the brakes now. Instead they need to continue to act and have another strong offseason to continue to build on this success.
Resign Brandon Lowe
This is a no brainer, but it must be stressed… the Pirates NEED to resign Brandon Lowe! At age 32 Lowe showed no signs of slowing down as he turned in one of the best seasons of his career. His 35 homers this season were the most ever hit by a Pirate in a single season, and it was the second most in a season in Lowe’s career. His .260 batting average was also the third highest in his career and he played in a career high 150 games. Simply put there’s no legitimate reason for the Pirates to not bring back Lowe.
Not only did Brandon Lowe hit 35 homers and drive in 96 runs…
In his first season as a Bucco, Lowe became the team’s best power threat and it wasn’t even close. There were flashes from other players and some promise for some up and comers, but no one on the roster currently can match that kind of pop at the plate. The question now is can the Pirates give Lowe what he’s looking for? He was snubbed from the All-Star team, and that could be a result of playing in a smaller market. At this point in his career he could be chasing maximum exposure and more stable situations to win. With that being said, Lowe and the Pirates feel like a match made in Heaven, and he should be the team’s top priority heading into 2027.
Acquire another quality right-handed hitter
In 2026, the Pirates had a much improved lineup, but were still lacking a power threat in the middle of the lineup. After Lowe and Oneil Cruz there is a significant drop in pop in Pittsburgh. Ryan O’Hearn and Bryan Reynolds provide decent power, while Esmerlyn Valdez and Konnor Griffin also show some promise, but ideally the Pirates can add one more strong hitter. This move can help especially if the organization fails to resign Lowe.
Third baseman Isaac Paredes is a name that has come up in potential fits for the Pirates, as he checks several boxes. For one he has some pop at the plate. He finished 2026 with 25 homers for the Houston Astros, plus had an efficient .262 batting average and .807 OPS. Paredes also plays third base. The Pirates rotated Jared Triolo and Nick Gonzales at third in 2026, but it’s unclear as to where they will be longterm. The Pirates can kill two birds with one stone by signing Paredes.
The Pirates batted just .228 with 3.82 runs per game and had a 18-33 record when facing left-handed starters. A quality right-handed hitter could curb some of those woes and get the team back on track against southpaws.
Add a left-handed starter
The Pittsburgh Pirates have the potential to have one of the best pitching rotations in baseball if a couple of things can come together. For starters they need Paul Skenes to come into 2027 healthy and well rested. When Skenes is at his best, he’s deadly. Skenes coupled with the emerging Braxton Ashcraft and the budding Bubba Chandler and Jared Jones make Pittsburgh a formidable foe on the mound. The Pirates should seriously consider adding a lefty starter to the mix though.
With Mitch Keller having the worst season of his career and it ending due to injury, it may be time to move on from the veteran starter. That would open up space in the rotation for a new arm, and with no lefties, it only makes sense to explore that market. Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com suggests that the Pirates could pursue Foster Griffin. The 31-year-old lefty is coming off his first All-Star selection with the Cleveland Guardians after posting a 3.60 ERA and earning 15 wins in 31 appearances. The free-agent market is kind of sparse this year so the Pirates would have to act fast, but a move like this would instantly bolster their starting rotation.
Former greats David Warner and Mark Waugh have questioned the make-up of Australia’s Test team, after Pat Cummins confirmed a whopping four changes at the toss in Cape Town.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 02: Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics talks with Derrick White #9 during the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on March 02, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Monday, the White Noise Podcast hosted by Derrick White and Alex Welsh had Joe Mazzulla on the pod for the first time.
“My point guard knocks, I open the door so happy to be here” is how Mazzulla opened the podcast. He kicked off the podcast by saying how much he doesn’t like to be called “Coach” and Walsh recounted the time he called Mazzulla “Coach” and how Joe got upset.
They started off the conversation about how Joe spent his summer traveling around the world to spend time with the players and how Mazzulla went to Colorado to visit White last summer. He talked about how smart Derrick’s son Hendrix is, which got into how the team learns from different sports and how they can learn from it.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MARCH 08: Derrick White #9 talks with head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on March 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 109-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They then got into when White and Walsh went to the J. Cole concert and Joe told White to learn Cole’s breathing techniques from it.
“[J. Cole] said that he doesn’t have a breathing route, just being conscious of finding the time to take the breath,” White said. “As [Mazzulla] was talking about, sometimes we forgot to take the breath… Just finding the time to take that deep breath.”
They then got into their Division 2 beginnings and all the wild stories behind that— for example, how they used to share the bus with the women’s team and how they would fly out to games on game day, no matter how far it was.
Joe then proceeded to point out that on days he doesn’t want to practice, White won’t wear his leggings or tie his shoes in warmups. “We can’t get anything accomplished today cause this guy doesn’t want to tie his shoes. He’s too lazy to put his leggings on so we can’t go live cause you need your leggings.”
When he was asked for stories about D-White, Mazzulla jokingly said that Derrick has “zero self-control at team events” and “brings it no matter where he is.” Joe then talked about how Derrick lights up and room and helps him keep perspective during games.
They then talked about Joe’s Joker tattoo and Mazzulla had an interesting perspective on it: “I don’t think he was as bad as people made him out to be. I don’t think Batman was as good as we made him out to be.”
They then finished up with a game of ‘Are you smarter than at 5th grader’ and the results were very funny.
You can listen to the whole podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Athletic | Chris Kirschner: The Yankees haven’t won the World Series since 2009. They only time they’ve even reached it since then was the near-sweep in 2024—two years ago—but the 2025 and 2026 campaigns brought early postseason exits with them. Kirschner details 10 specific steps the Bombers need to take to return to the Fall Classic in 2027.
We won’t be giving it all away because it’s a very worthwhile read, but some of the recommendations include extending David Bednar a qualifying offer, trying Luis García Jr. in other infield positions, and bringing in a right-handed-hitting catcher. Oh, and also acquiring a certain Cleveland Guardians outfielder: Steven Kwan.
SNY | Phillip Martínez: Speaking of players the Yankees should trade for this offseason, Martínez offered a list of five, with the respective reasoning for each one of them. There’s a little bit of everything: established stars, veterans past their primes but with a chance to contribute, power guys, and more. The five listed options are all position players.
MLB.com | Brendan Samson: Yankees infield prospect Dax Kilby was one of the best players of the past week in the Arizona Fall League. He played four games in Week 3 of the AFL and went 7-for-18 with four runs, two doubles, a triple, a homer, a couple of RBI, and three stolen bases.
The homer was his second of the 2026 AFL campaign and it left his bat at 107.1 mph, traveling 419 feet. The 19-year-old middle infielder has hit a robust .311/.353/.622 through 11 contests for Salt River so far. As an aside, be sure to check out my colleague Michael’s weekly recaps of Yankees prospect AFL action!
The Detroit Red Wings wrapped up their four-game road trip Monday night against the Edmonton Oilers by giving Michal Postava the start in net after calling him up from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins due to an injury to Daniil Tarasov.
It was proven to be the correct choice.
Making his first NHL start, Postava turned aside 25 shots in both regulation and overtime before staring down Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the shootout, denying all three and securing a 4-3 comeback victory for his club.
In doing so, he became the third goaltender over the last 25 years of Red Wings history to win his first NHL start, joining Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek.
Following the game, it felt as though he was a youngster again.
"It's amazing, I feel like a kid," Postava said afterward. "I just watch all the NHL games when I was young. I just, I don't expect that one day, I'd be one day in the net and win the game. I'm just so happy."
Speaking in a heavy Czech accent reminiscent of former Red Wings goaltender and fellow Czech native Dominik Hasek, Postava said his main goal was to enjoy the experience and help his teammates.
"Just go to enjoy the game and help the guys, make some saves," he said.
Former Oilers head coach Todd McLellan, who gave Postava the starting responsibilities against the high-powered Edmonton offense, said that the performance of the young goaltender was indicitive of how he's played with the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins.
"We had a pretty good idea that Postava was what we saw tonight, and he was outstanding last year; the start to the season was really good," he said.
Of course, the preseason schedule for 2026-27 shrunk to just four games, meaning that a young player like Postava wouldn't have as much of a chance to show what he could do at the NHL level.
But that hasn't stopped the Red Wings from expressing confidence in his abiliites, which he's already put on full display in Grand Rapids and now has done so in the NHL.
"Unfortunately, the way the exhibition schedule is set up now, these goaltenders don't get a lot of runway, which I think sucks for them - but yeah, we've liked him all along, and he's continued to work," McLellan continued. "The goaltending coaches are very confident in him. So are the players."
The Red Wings got goals in regulation from Viktor Arvidsson, Emmitt Finnie, and the game-tying marker from Dylan Larkin with 1:17 left while Postava was pulled for an extra attacker.
They'll return home to face the visiting Chicago Blackhawks, who now have former Red Wings forward Patrick Kane back in the fold, at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday evening.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Mitchell Starc’s six-wicket haul capped off a much-needed Australian fightback on day one after a horror start to the deciding third Test in Cape Town.
Los Angeles Kings (3-5-2, in the Pacific Division) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (3-8, in the Central Division)
Chicago; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Kings -123, Blackhawks +101; over/under is 6
BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Blackhawks take on the Los Angeles Kings after losing three in a row.
Chicago is 3-4-0 at home and 3-8 overall. The Blackhawks have gone 1-3-0 in games they have more penalties than their opponent.
Los Angeles has a 2-2-2 record in road games and a 3-5-2 record overall. The Kings have gone 1-1-2 in one-goal games.
The teams meet Tuesday for the first time this season.
INJURIES: Blackhawks: Ryan Ellis: out for season (back), Bowen Byram: day to day (upper-body).
Kings: Jakub Dvorak: out (upper-body), Quinton Byfield: day to day (upper body), Mats Zuccarello: out (upper-body), Kevin Fiala: out (leg), Jan Jenik: out (undisclosed), Alex Turcotte: out (undisclosed).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 26: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on October 26, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors collected their first win of the 2026-27 NBA season on Monday, and it wasn’t a cheap one. Playing on the road, against a team with championship aspirations, the Dubs dismantled the Denver Nuggets, winning 134-114, and looking excellent along the way.
Through three games, the red pen had gotten some serious wear and tear, so I’m pleased to announce that it can get a rest day today. Load management! Grades will be mostly positive, because that’s what is deserved with such an impressive win.
As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that individual.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. League-average TS was 58.1% last year.
Let me repeat that line really quickly: 31 points and 12 rebounds on 62.7% true shooting. And now let me remind you of something really quickly: this was his fourth career game.
It is abundantly clear that Lendeborg is a good player; a really good player, even. How good he can become is a different question for a different day, because the reality is, that right now, he’s a really good NBA player.
Lendeborg became just the fifth Warriors rookie since the turn of the century to have 30 points and 10 rebounds in a game (joining Steph Curry, Eric Paschall, Anthony Morrow, and Marc Jackson), and the history doesn’t stop there.
Again: this was his fourth game. It’s not like he’s figuring things out in March. He just got here.
Lendeborg was the team’s go-to option when Curry was on the bench … and often when Curry was on the court, too. He broke down the defense repeatedly, and got to the rim with ease, where he finished with absurd efficiency: he shot 8-for-11 from inside the arc, with 13 free throws. Occasionally he opted not to score after penetrating the defense, and instead dished to an open teammate en route to six dimes.
He has an uncanny combination of aggression and patience. You don’t see many rookies (let alone ones in their first week) who have the ability to score 30 points but still make the right reads and decisions, and play within the system (just ask Draymond Green about Darius Acuff Jr. for further proof of this!).
And my goodness can the dude rebound. Remember when Andrew Wiggins had a great rebounding series in the NBA Finals and claimed it was because he realized that rebounding was as simple as just deciding to get rebounds? Well, Lendeborg decides to get rebounds. He’s snagged 37 boards in four games, and is almost single-handedly making people forget that the Warriors are hilariously short on centers.
He’s the real deal, folks.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in points and rebounds.
It’s been an up and down start to the season for Santos, but this game was far and away his best. Even if Santos hadn’t done much else, you’re going to always look good scoring 13 points on just seven shooting possessions; that’s elite efficiency, and in a high-octane offensive game like this one, a player scoring like that can make the difference.
But Santos also did a lot more. His defense is a little inconsistent, which isn’t surprising for a player of his age and experience level, but this was definitely a strong game on that end of the court. We’ve seen the potential he has on D, and he really materialized it in this contest. He also had a lot of hustle plays — the three rebounds in the box score don’t do justice to the impact he had on 50-50 balls.
It sure makes it easier to start Green at the five when Lendeborg punches so much above his weight. Yaxel grabbing 12 rebounds, and even successfully taking some turn defending Nikola Jokić, gave Steve Kerr the luxury of playing small, with Green at center.
It certainly worked at times, and Green was the primary reason why Jokić had a relatively quiet night by his superstar standards (19 points on 8-for-18 shooting).
Dray didn’t play well on offense. He was a non-factor scoring (though he wasn’t forcing anything), and had a lot of turnovers, though he had some dimes as well. He’s still rounding into form, but his defense was big in this one.
Grade: B- Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists.
We heard all camp that Podziemski was better than ever before. We had to wait to see it, given that he missed Wednesday’s and Saturday’s games with back soreness. But this was a data point. And this was a strong data point.
Setting aside the stats and the impact for a second, Podz looked, to me, more athletic than ever before. He was flying all over the court, which we’ve come to expect of him, but he looked stronger and more explosive. He’s always had great defensive instincts, but now he looks more prepared for the contact on any given play. He’s ripping rebounds out of the air, colliding with players for blocks and coming out on top, and working through contact easily. He just looks like a better athlete than he used to be.
More importantly, he just played a fantastic game. He was creative on offense, both in getting his own shot and in setting up his teammates. The fourth-year guard was a menace on the glass and on defense, in the half court and in transition.
The Warriors are a confusing team. I have no idea how good or how bad they might be. But if Podziemski and Lendeborg play like this, and Curry stays healthy, well … I’m excited to see just how good they can be.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team.
For just the second time in his storied career, Chef Curry went an entire game without missing a shot. And if you want to know how rare his feat was, there were only three instances all last year where a player scored at least 20 points without missing a field goal or a free threw … and none of the players who did it were guards.
It was also a masterclass in picking your spots. Curry took just one shot in the first half, happy to defer as his younger teammates took over (Lendeborg led both teams with 15 points at the break). And then, when the team needed him, he took over, scoring 17 of his points in the third quarter before taking his regularly-scheduled break.
Just a brilliant display of offensive wizardry from one of the best to ever do it. And hopefully Podz and Lendeborg can keep playing big enough roles that Curry can pace himself like this.
Payton’s just kind of been hanging around to start the season. He hasn’t been doing too much notable, but he hasn’t been playing poorly, either. His athleticism was firmly on display in this game, and it’s nice seeing him share the court with Lendeborg … suddenly the Dubs don’t look so unathletic! He didn’t have a very efficient scoring game, but good things happened because he cut to the rim repeatedly.
Niang’s strong three-point shooting showed up for the first time this year, and it was very timely: he drained back-to-back triples in the first minute of the second quarter, giving Golden State the lead and a whole bunch of momentum that they would not relinquish.
He fits the system well, and makes smart plays on both ends of the court. When he’s making his shots, it all comes together oh so nicely … not unlike with Al Horford.
Grade: B+ Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team.
Not the best offensive game for Melton (though three assists and no turnovers is always a great ratio), but I loved what he did on defense. This was a game where he made things happen through sheer effort. Even the national broadcasters mentioned how there were multiple plays where Melton disrupted Denver simply by wanting the ball more than any of the Nuggets did.
That’s a critical mentality to be getting from one of your veterans. And it makes the ship run very nicely. There will be days where the Warriors will need more out of his offensive game — which he showed on Saturday he’s capable of — but in this game they needed quarterbacking, leadership, and defense, and he brought all three.
Like I said when I compared Niang to Horford … when the threes fall, the total package looks damn nice, doesn’t it?
Horford was awesome in this game. His floor-stretching ability was critical, and a huge part of why the Warriors scored 134 points. And his defense on both Jokić and the other Nuggets players was massive. There’s a reason that Kerr trusts Horford so much that Graham Ike and Charles Bassey only got garbage time; and that trust was rewarded.
One funny thing: Niang, Horford, and Melton all finished with playing time totals within 22 seconds of each other. It seems like Kerr has found the sweet spot for his trusted vets!
This was kind of a rookie game for Williams who, it goes without saying, is not a rookie. He showed off his immense potential, but it also looked fairly raw. He really just did such a great job breaking down the defense and making things happen for the offense, especially at the end of the third quarter, when the Dubs were in the midst of turning a close game into a blowout. But at the same time, given Golden State’s history with ball security, you just cannot turn the ball over four times in 15 minutes of action.
One thing to monitor: Williams said that he dedicated much of his offseason to working on his jump shot, after shooting just 28.0% from three-point range in his first four seasons. So far this year he’s 5-for-11 … a very small sample, but an encouraging trend worth keeping an eye on.
Just a little dose of garbage time for Cryer, but my goodness did he make the most of it. Six points and two assists in less than three minutes of action? That’s fun, and had to be a nice tonic for the youngster after struggling on Saturday.
Grade: Incomplete
Malevy Leons
3 minutes, 0 points, 1 rebound, 1 foul, -1
A few minutes of garbage time for Leons, who hasn’t seen the court much so far this year.
I thought there was a chance Ike would get some run tonight, after starting on Friday and Saturday and playing fairly well. But instead, he just got some garbage time. He made another triple though, and the center is now a perfect 4-for-4 from deep to open his career!
Grade: Incomplete
Will Richard
3 minutes, 0 points, -1
It seems like Richard is, for now, out of the rotation. But there will be plenty of opportunities when other players aren’t available.
I was a little surprised that Bassey wasn’t part of the rotation in this game, but with Lendeborg playing as well as he is, and able to play up a size, there just might not be too many minutes for Bassey on the games that Horford plays.
Grade: Incomplete
Monday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, Kristaps Porziņģis
SAN ANTONIO, TX -OCTOBER 16: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs goes for a loose bal against Sacramento Kings in the first half of a preseason game at Frost Bank Center on October 16, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following a disconcerting pair of opening losses, the Spurs are getting a couple of ‘get right’ games thrown at them on their way back to .500 and beyond.
After pulling themselves out of the winless column against the already banged-up Dallas Mavericks, the basketball gods are serving them up another meatball of a matchup in the Sacramento Kings.
In the recent past, the Kings were briefly getting the better of San Antonio teams for the first time since the turn of the millennium, kept at the edges of the postseason picture by a point-happy offense that made up for defensive flaws.
They were a playoff/play-in team, free from the shackles of the lengthy playoff drought they’d finally quenched.
Not so any longer.
Tired of a slowly and steadily declining win total, the Kings have opted to tear it all down. Or, at least, that’s what I think they’re doing. It’s just so hard to tell sometimes.
Either way (sample size disclaimers attached), the Kings are looking *really* bad.
Through three games, the Kings are: last in Player Impact Estimate, Blocks, and Assists, 29th in +/- and Net Rating, 28th in Points Scored and Points Allowed, 27th in Defensive Rating, and 26th in Opponent Field Goals Made.
Yeah, it’s just three games. But the teams that torched them were the Trailblazers (understandable) and the recently gutted Clippers and Grizzlies (uh-oh).
My guess is that if the Kings and Spurs had swapped schedules, the Spurs would be undefeated, and the Kings would be last in every category.
So, if you’re hoping for a competitive spectacle, you should probably watch something else. In fact, if there’s a game you’d like to be able to skip out on, I highly recommend this one.
If, on the other hand, you’ve had a rough week already and you could really use a blowout win, this will probably serve as a spectacular little sweet treat.
Especially if De’Aaron Fox goes off on his former team — which seems likely against a Sacramento backcourt that is very thin on guard talent for the first time in years.
In any case, here’s hoping that this game ends up being the ‘closer to .500’ treat that we all hope it is, as opposed to the ‘Spurs didn’t take them seriously’ trick that it very well could be, on the first leg of San Antonio’s 2nd back-to-back of the season.
Enjoy as approved by responsible adults, and don’t forget to check for needles in your apples! (I’ve really got to chill with the metaphors)
The Golden State Warriors got their first win of the season on the road against the Denver Nuggets in a 134-114 victory behind a career night from rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.
Lendeborg led all scorers in a game that featured Stephen Curry, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. The Warriors' 24-year-old rookie put up a double-double, giving Golden State 31 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and a block.
The No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft shot relatively well from everywhere on the court, except from deep.
Lendeborg shot 9-of-19, including 1-of-8 on 3-point field goals. He's continued to adapt to the NBA game, staying aggressive and getting easy opportunities at the free throw line. The rookie finished 12-of-13 from the charity stripe.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr pointed out that the rookie has things that he still needs to recognize and learn, but he's overall impressed by his rookie early on by the things that he's been able to come in and immediately do to contribute to the team.
"The ability to do what Jimmy (Butler) does, slow the game down, get fouled, create shots for himself, or others, it's a game changer for us. And so now we've got to take advantage of this momentum for the night," Kerr said. "Obviously tough to start 0-3, but long, long season, and we feel like we've got a good team, and we can win a lot of games."
Kerr is excited by Lendeborg's ability. He's coming off of a 26-point performance against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 24. Lendeborg is adapting to the league, rather swiftly. The rookie averages 21.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists through his first four career games.
"I think that's the exciting part, is where this can go," Kerr said. "There's still probably 10 plays that I could pull up on tape where he made mistakes, either defensively, or offensively. Not recognizing something that he needs to recognize. Despite all that, he just dominated the game and took over. At 24, in his fourth game ... pretty impressive. We're gonna keep coaching him, and keep trying to get him to learn the NBA game, and make the most of that enormous potential he's got."
It wasn't just Lendeborg. After all, he still plays on a team with No. 30. Curry was perfect from the field in the win. He scored 24 points on 8-for-8 shooting, 3-for-3 on 3-pointers and 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
Curry was all positive when asked about Lendeborg. There's a common excitement about what he brings to the table.
"Yaxel played amazing, we were flying around on defense, that's how we got to win," Curry said in a postgame interview with Peacock. When asked the most impressive thing about the rook, Curry noted his composure.
"He just came off of NCAA championship run," Curry said. "He's just got composure and feel. ...His size on the court, he's a matchup problem, but he's never really in a hurry and he's starting to see the pictures really well. (He's) distributing and being aggressive getting the free throw line, offensive rebound. Kind of a full package, so we want him to still continue to play aggressive."
