Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg arrives as Michael Myers for Luka Dončić rematch
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg wore a Michael Myers costume to Chase Center for his NBA Cup rematch with Luka Dončić, but the Lakers jumped out early.
Yaxel Lendeborg didn't try to calm things down before his second meeting with Luka Dončić. The Golden State Warriors rookie walked into Chase Center on Friday dressed as Michael Myers, the masked killer from the Halloween films, a few hours before the Warriors opened NBA Cup group play against the Los Angeles Lakers, USA TODAY Sports and Bleacher Report reported.
The costume was a callback to what happened on opening night. After the Lakers beat Golden State 127-105 on Oct. 21, Lendeborg said he had "lost all respect" for Dončić, criticizing the way the Lakers star works officials for fouls, ESPN reported. Dončić finished that game with 28 points on 7-for-18 shooting. Bleacher Report, citing NBA.com matchup data, said Dončić scored nine points on 1-for-5 shooting with Lendeborg guarding him, and his only make came on a banked heave from half court at the end of the first half.
The rookie has stood by those comments. Bleacher Report also noted that he has said he will skip media training and keep speaking his mind. On the court, he has shifted his attention to offense since the opener. He scored 12 points that night and has averaged more than 21 over the Warriors' last three games while taking more shots and making a higher share of them.
The rematch started badly for Golden State. USA TODAY reported that the Lakers led 38-15 after one quarter. Dončić went 1-for-3 against Lendeborg in the first 12 minutes but scored 21 against everyone else and had 24 points at halftime. Lendeborg's only basket in that stretch was a two-handed dunk off an alley-oop from De'Anthony Melton on a fast break.
What it means for the Warriors
Golden State came into Friday at 2-3, and the record has moved in both directions. The Warriors lost their first three games, falling at Los Angeles, losing 111-108 at home to Memphis and dropping a 131-122 decision at Phoenix. They then won two straight on the road, beating Denver 134-114 and Minnesota 119-114. Stephen Curry scored 44 points in the win over the Timberwolves.
The Lakers arrived at 4-1, according to ESPN, with Dončić leading the league at 36 points per game and rested after sitting out the second night of a back-to-back on Wednesday. Bleacher Report pointed out that if guarding Dončić takes too much out of Lendeborg on offense, Golden State will need more scoring from Curry.
A 23-point deficit after one quarter is a lot to make up. This is also the first of the Warriors' four NBA Cup group games, so the final margin could count later as well as the result. Lendeborg made the night about his matchup with Dončić. Through the first half, Dončić held the edge on the scoreboard. Follow the season on the Warriors team page.
