Warriors beat Nuggets 134-114 as Curry and Lendeborg carry first win

Why people search it today

The Golden State Warriors won their first game of the season on Monday, 26 October, beating the Denver Nuggets 134-114 [1] [2]. Stephen Curry was eight for eight from the field, three of those shots from deep, and finished with 24 points [1] [2]. It was the first time in his career that he scored 20 or more on 100 percent shooting [1]. The game's top scorer, though, was Yaxel Lendeborg, who led everyone with 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists [1].

Lendeborg's night

Lendeborg made nine of 19 shots from the field and 12 of 13 free throws, and he went 1-of-8 from three-point range [2]. Brandin Podziemski added 18 points for Golden State, with a plus-minus of +33 [2]. Before Monday, Lendeborg had been averaging 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds, and he had scored a team-high 26 in the loss at Phoenix [4].

After the game Curry talked about his teammate. He said Lendeborg has composure and is "never really in a hurry," and that he is "starting to see the pictures really well." Curry called him "kind of the full package" [1]. NBA.com wrote that after "a strong opening week," Lendeborg provided his biggest spark yet [1].

The Nuggets' side

DeMar DeRozan scored 21 for Denver, and Aaron Gordon added seven [2]. Nikola Jokić finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists [2] [1]. Denver still lost by 20 points, so Jokić's 11 assists did not keep the game close [2].

How the winless start began

The Warriors opened their season at the Lakers on Wednesday, 21 October. Curry scored 23 points on 7-of-15 shooting in that 127-105 loss at Crypto.com Arena, with two rebounds and two steals. He finished minus-22 in 21 minutes [3].

The home opener on Friday ended in a loss after Golden State blew a late lead [4]. On Saturday the Warriors lost at Phoenix by nine, and Curry sat that game out [4]. Golden State was 0-3 when it arrived in Denver [4].

What the win changes

Monday's win was the Warriors' first of the season, and it ended a three-game slide [1] [2]. Golden State moved to 1-3, and the Nuggets dropped to 1-2 [2].

What comes next

At 1-3, Golden State is still early in a long season, and one win does not settle much. No confirmed date for the Warriors' next game had been published when this was written, so this page does not list one.

Lendeborg's role is the thing to watch. NBA.com framed his first week as a strong start [1], and Curry's praise centered on composure and reading the floor rather than on scoring alone [1]. A second game like this one would say more than the first.