Lendeborg’s 31 Leads Warriors’ 40-Point Third-Quarter Surge

Golden State erased Denver’s four-point first-quarter lead to take a 60-56 halftime edge, then broke the game open with a 40-28 third quarter and won 134-114. Yaxel Lendeborg led the Warriors with 31 points on 9-of-19 shooting, 12 rebounds, six assists, no steals, one block and three turnovers; he also made 12 of 13 free throws. Stephen Curry scored 24 on a perfect 8-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-3 from three, and added three rebounds, three assists, two steals, no blocks and three turnovers. Brandin Podziemski had 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting, seven rebounds, five assists, one steal, no blocks and no turnovers, while Gui Santos scored 13 on 5-of-6 with three rebounds, one assist, one steal, no blocks and no turnovers. Al Horford added 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, three rebounds and no assists, steals, blocks or turnovers; Georges Niang chipped in nine on 3-of-7, two rebounds, no assists, steals or blocks and one turnover. DeMar DeRozan scored 21 for Denver on 7-of-15 shooting, with four rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block and one turnover, while Nikola Jokic had 19 on 8-of-18, seven rebounds, 11 assists, one steal, three blocks and one turnover. Jamal Murray also scored 19 on 8-of-13, adding six rebounds, eight assists, three steals, no blocks and three turnovers; Bryce Hopkins contributed 13 on 5-of-9, three rebounds, one assist and no steals, blocks or turnovers. The Warriors’ decisive third-quarter burst turned a close game into a 16-point lead entering the fourth, and Denver could not close the gap.