The San Antonio Spurs secured a dominant 123-85 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.
The Warriors played without Stephen Curry, who remained sidelined, contributing to the team’s second consecutive loss according to the Yahoo Sports report.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg recorded a season-low three points during his 24 minutes on the floor.
Following the defeat, Lendeborg addressed his performance and his matchup against Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
Lendeborg admitted that he played with hesitation during the contest.
He noted that he should have been more aggressive despite the physical profile of his opponent, stating, “He’s skinnier than me. I just got to go up there and put an elbow in his chest and jump into his body or something.”
The 24-year-old further reflected on the team’s collective mindset during the game.
He acknowledged that the intimidation factor was widespread, saying, “All of us were kind of scared in a way.”
Wembanyama contributed 12 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and one steal in 21 minutes of play.
The loss marks a difficult stretch for the Warriors, who had previously enjoyed an eight-game winning streak.
Analysts continue to monitor the league’s big men, with Kendrick Perkins recently discussing which players present unique challenges for Wembanyama.
Others have expressed awe at the rookie’s recent trajectory, including Chris Bosh, who labeled the performance as crazy.
Meanwhile, Wembanyama has also been evaluating his peers, noting his impressions of other young talent such as Dylan Harper.
The Warriors now face uncertainty regarding their offensive production without Curry in the lineup.
Lendeborg remains optimistic about future matchups, concluding his postgame comments by stating, “We’ll get him next time, I guess.”