Vegas Victory
Golden State Warriors Defeat Dallas Mavericks in Summer League Behind Lendeborg's Big Game
Key Points
Dallas' bench provided a notable scoring punch, led by LJ Cryer with 25 points off the bench, while Lachlan Olbrich added 12 and Lajae Jones contributed 11 (with 5 rebounds and two 3-pointers).
Dallas' Morez Johnson Jr. finished with 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. are former Michigan Wolverines and were part of Michigan’s trio of first-round picks, reuniting on the Summer League floor.
Lendeborg's path to the pros includes time at Arizona Western, a decommitment from St. John's, and rising stardom with UAB before landing as the No. 11 overall pick, described as having a chip-on-his-shoulder profile.
In postgame remarks, Lendeborg joked about trying to lay out Johnson in the matchup, noting the reunion produced fun competition, while Johnson's teammate praised his relentless motor on the court.
Golden State handed Dallas a 101-90 loss in the NBA Summer League on Thursday in Las Vegas, with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg posting 21 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in his debut Warriors Wire. A massive 35-19 second quarter gave the Warriors a 20-point halftime lead they never gave back.
The win was built on a dominant rebounding edge — Golden State outrebounded Dallas 56-36 — and sharp shooting, with the Warriors hitting nearly 49% of their shots overall and 50% from three Sporting News.
Lendeborg Shines in Near-Perfect Summer League Debut
Lendeborg, the Warriors' 11th overall pick, wasted no time showing why Golden State drafted him Sporting News. The 23-year-old went 21 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in his first NBA Summer League game. He also shot efficiently from the floor, a strong sign for a team that needs frontcourt versatility.
After the game, Lendeborg admitted he still has work to do. He pointed to conditioning and ball-handling as areas he wants to sharpen Warriors Wire. Still, his all-around stat line impressed coaches and scouts watching in Las Vegas.
Michigan Reunion Produces a High-Stakes Individual Duel
Lendeborg was not the only former Michigan Wolverine on the floor. Dallas' Morez Johnson Jr. — another first-round pick from the same national championship team — scored 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting, with eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks Yahoo Sports.
The two were close friends before facing each other Thursday. Lendeborg joked postgame that he tried to "lay out" Johnson during the matchup. Johnson's teammate praised Johnson's relentless motor, while Lendeborg called the reunion fun competition Warriors Wire. Michigan sent three players to the first round of the same NBA Draft — a rare feat.
Dallas Bench Scores Big but Can't Overcome Slow Start
Golden State got key contributions beyond Lendeborg. LJ Cryer came off the bench and poured in 25 points. Lachlan Olbrich added 12, and Lajae Jones chipped in 11 points with five rebounds and two three-pointers Warriors Wire.
Dallas got strong play from Johnson but could not close the gap the Warriors opened in the second quarter. The Mavericks were outrebounded by 20, a hole too deep to escape despite their scoring.
Golden State Eyes Thunder; Dallas Turns to Lakers
The win sets Golden State up for a Sunday game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas Sporting News. Oklahoma City is one of the league's young powerhouses, so the matchup will test Lendeborg and the Warriors' summer roster again quickly.
Dallas, meanwhile, shifts focus to a Saturday game against the Los Angeles Lakers Yahoo Sports. Johnson's efficiency — 12-of-17 from the floor — shows he can score at a high level even in a losing effort, a promising sign for a Mavericks team rebuilding around young talent.
Sentiment
Mostly PositivePublishers
10
Articles
22
Reach
32
