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Why Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg was benched after being 'peer pressured' into chasing 40 against Clippers

Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg delivered another standout performance Sunday, scoring 37 points on 85% true shooting in a dominant outing against the Los Angeles Clippers. The 2026 first-round pick continued his historic start to the season, hitting six of 11 three-pointers and adding six assists, but his late-game pursuit of a 40-point night led to costly misfires.

With the Warriors holding a 21-point lead, Lendeborg launched three questionable long-range attempts in a two-minute stretch, missing all three as the Clippers mounted a furious comeback. Head coach Steve Kerr pulled Lendeborg with 2:14 remaining, acknowledging the pressure from teammates on the bench and the resulting disruption to the Warriors' rhythm.

The decision proved pivotal, as De'Anthony Melton sealed the game with back-to-back three-pointers after Lendeborg's exit. Kerr later emphasized the importance of maintaining flow over chasing round-number milestones, calling it a valuable lesson for both Lendeborg and the team.

The Warriors, now on a four-game winning streak after an opening 0-3, extended their lead in the Pacific Division with the victory.

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