Warriors Rout Shorthanded Lakers 124-98 as Lendeborg Shines in Preseason Win

Golden State delivered a message Tuesday night at Chase Center, overwhelming a short-handed Los Angeles Lakers squad 124-98 for the Warriors' first win of the preseason. The Lakers were playing their second game in two nights after opening the preseason Monday in Sacramento, and head coach JJ Redick chose to sit Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler. Golden State needed no invitation. The Warriors led by 14 after the first quarter and 81-53 at halftime, stretching the margin to 28 points before closing out a 26-point victory. The brightest story was rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. The No. 11 overall pick scored a team-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the first half alone, pairing with Brandin Podziemski — who bounced back from a rough opening game with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting — to carry the offense. Steph Curry needed only 14 minutes to post 16 points and a plus-26 rating, while Draymond Green was plus-25 with eight assists in 15 minutes. New starting center Gui Santos opened alongside Curry, Podziemski, Lendeborg and Green, and the first five built an early 11-2 cushion, pouring in 31 first-quarter points. Redick noted the Lakers remain a work in progress, still missing suspended star LeBron James, but the night belonged to Golden State's young core.