The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors meet for the second time this season tonight in Oakland, with rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg aiming to rebound from a contentious opening-night loss. The game, part of the NBA Cup Group Play, follows the Lakers’ 4-1 start and the Warriors’ 2-3 record through five games.
Lakers’ Luka Doncic has circled the rematch since opening night, when Lendeborg publicly criticized him after the Warriors’ 22-point loss. The Lakers defeated Golden State again in their next meeting on Oct. 24, this time by eight points. The Warriors, meanwhile, have won two straight road games, including a 31-point performance by Lendeborg against the Denver Nuggets.
Lendeborg, who has averaged 20.4 points and 10.0 rebounds in his first five NBA games, reiterated his stance on Doncic in a postgame interview following the Lakers’ opener. “I lost all respect for him,” he said. The rookie has since refused media training, telling the San Francisco Chronicle he will “stay true to myself” and answer questions honestly. Warriors coach Steve Kerr has publicly supported Lendeborg’s approach, calling him a “headache” for the team’s communications staff but adding that the rookie’s swagger must be backed by performance on the court.
Lakers’ early-season dominance
The Lakers have started the season with wins over the Warriors, Clippers (twice), and Jazz, with their only loss coming against the Portland Trail Blazers. Their 4-1 record includes a 22-point victory over Golden State on opening night, a game in which Lendeborg guarded Doncic directly for stretches. The Warriors, despite their 2-3 start, have shown resilience with road wins over Denver and Minnesota, where Lendeborg scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his fifth NBA appearance.
Warriors’ internal dynamics
Lendeborg’s development has been a focal point for Golden State, with Draymond Green playing a key role in his adjustment. After Lendeborg admitted to “playing soft” in a loss to Minnesota, Green confronted him mid-game, telling the rookie to “drive it into somebody’s chest” next time he got the ball. Lendeborg later credited Green with refocusing him, saying the blunt feedback snapped him out of a momentary awe watching Steph Curry. Kerr has since emphasized discipline as the next step for Lendeborg, who finished with seven turnovers in that game despite his 26-point outing.
The Warriors drafted Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and his early-season production has included two double-doubles. His rematch with Doncic comes amid a stretch where the Lakers play their third game in four nights, though the schedule does not include a back-to-back. Golden State, meanwhile, has shown signs of improvement after a slow start, with Lendeborg emerging as a key contributor alongside Curry and Green.
Tonight’s game marks the second of three scheduled meetings between the teams in the early season, with the potential for playoff implications depending on their performances in the NBA Cup Group Play.