SAN FRANCISCO – The lessons came in waves Friday night, and it behooves Yaxel Lendeborg to study them religiously and stash them in a corner of his mind.The Warriors’ 112-95 rout over the Lakers gave the Warriors a 1-0 record in Emirates NBA Cup Group Play, gave the sellout crowd (18,064) at Chase Center good reason to celebrate and gave Lendeborg a reminder that an ugly personal game can end beautifully for his team.
“Them boys had my back today,” Lendeborg said.
“Them boys” were led by Stephen Curry, who poured in a team-high 31 points, Brandin Podziemski (21 points) and a bench that accumulated 50 points, 25 rebounds, five steals, two blocks and only four turnovers.
That is why, on a night when Lendeborg and his teammates were quickly torched by his first NBA nemesis, Los Angeles star Luka Doni – whose 21-point first quarter left Golden State facing a 23-point deficit – the Warriors still walked off the floor as winners.
“They all played a great game,” Lendeborg said. “I feel like I was only Debbie Downer on the team. So, I feel like next time...