Warriors' Yaxel Lendeborg continues to learn, one-up himself with 37 points in win over Clippers

Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who scored 37 points, is fouled by the Clippers' Kobe Sanders while going for a layup during the first half Sunday at Chase Center. (Justine Willard/Associated Press) He is a young man who grew up watching the NBA off highlights, off viral moments, and yet Yaxel Lendeborg sold a clip Sunday night. A signature moment sat in front of him, late in this first half, sure to capture the masses. He came off a pick and split a double-team, freezing Clippers big man Isaiah Jackson so bad that Jackson fell to the hardwood, because a 6-foot-10 man has no business moving as fluid as Lendeborg does with a ball in his hands. The crowd at Chase Center swelled, suddenly, recognizing a flash. Lendeborg attacked - and then flung a layup off the corner of the rim. He drew a foul, at least. But, as written in ancient informal basketball lexicon, a hooper must finish a bucket for such a crossover to matter. He bounded away, holding his head in his hands in very real anguish.This was about the only thing Lendeborg did wrong - save for a couple third-quarter turnovers - in the best performance of his young Warriors career Sunday night, a 37-point masterpiece in an 124-112 win over the Clippers.Lendeborg's sheer ability to input information and respond - within minutes, within days, within weeks - has earned him the trust of Golden State's veterans within a month, and a remarkably long leash for a 24-year-old rookie. It has bought him time through failure, too. The Warriors' entire roster intertwined to offer Lendeborg a verbal cushion after Luka Doncic came out for blood in Golden State's comeback win over the Lakers on Friday night, as Lendeborg looked rattled by early foul trouble: six points, one rebound, five turnovers in 24 minutes.It was a remarkably timid performance, for a rookie whose complete unabashedness has taken the NBA - and online headlines - by storm. Lendeborg admitted postgame, too, that he has trouble not dwelling on struggles.Externally, though, Golden State didn't pay the stinker much mind."It's all about the theme of him learning, trial-by-fire, going through the ups and downs in front of everybody," star Stephen Curry said, after Golden State's win over the Lakers. "It's a tough demand, but I think he's built for it, and I'm pretty sure he'll respond extremely well next game."A clairvoyant, indeed. Lendeborg came out not overly aggressive, but in flow Sunday night, again handling a lion's share of ball-handling responsibilities with Curry and Draymond Green resting on the front end of a back-to-back. Lendeborg has had a habit of throwing his massive 6-foot-10 frame into the paint with little plan, and getting ripped in the process; no more, this night. He attacked Clippers guard Darius Garland on switches, drawing the defense into the paint and kicking. He played off two feet. The most telling Lendeborg first-half stat: three assists, no turnovers. Then, predictably, came the flood. Lendeborg stepped into 3-pointers with the ease of a kid dropping a quarter into his piggy bank, firing off the catch with no hands in his face, firing off the catch with Clippers forward Rui Hachimura's 7-foot-2 wingspan directly in his face. A 14-point barrage came in the second quarter, and a couple more jumpers fell in the third, and Lendeborg jogged back shaking his head in mock disbelief after another fourth-quarter jumper over Hachimura rang true. With a few minutes to play and a 20-point cushion, Lendeborg set about visibly hunting for 40. Three threes, though, hit off iron, his dismay apparent after each. The Clippers threatened for a moment, a barrage of threes cutting Golden State's lead to eight. And head coach Steve Kerr closed, for a final two minutes and a couple dagger threes from De'Anthony Melton, with Lendeborg on the bench.Another lesson, perhaps.SubscribeThere’s more to San Francisco with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Warriors' Yaxel Lendeborg continues to learn, one-up himself with 37 points in win over Clippers.