The Long View · Morning

Lendeborg's Foot Decides Whether the Denver Blueprint Travels

The win in Denver ran through a rookie forward who touched everything, and tonight in Minnesota he is questionable with a sore left foot.

By the Warriors Nightly Desk · Wednesday, October 28

Yaxel Lendeborg is listed day-to-day with a foot issue before Wednesday's game against a Timberwolves team that will also be without Anthony Edwards. If Lendeborg sits, how Steve Kerr covers his role will say more about this 1-3 roster than Monday's 20-point win did.

Warriors Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

What changed overnight

Lendeborg was listed Tuesday with a foot problem, and Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area reported him questionable in Minnesota with left foot inflammation and soreness. The same day, Brandon Williams, Gui Santos and Charles Bassey were all cleared. So the morning cuts both ways: three players are back, and the one this team can least afford to lose is in doubt.

Why one player carries this much

In Denver he put up 31 and 12 with six assists, went 12 of 13 at the line and finished plus-27, all while making one of eight threes. That last number is the point. He wins by getting downhill and drawing fouls, not by spacing the floor, and right now nobody else here creates that kind of pressure. Podziemski, plus-33 in 33 minutes, was the only other engine.

Who absorbs his minutes?

If he sits, the frontcourt minutes go to Santos, who shot 5 of 6 in Denver; to Al Horford, at 40; and to Bassey, whose role has grown by about nine minutes a night over the last three games with teammates out. None of them gets to the line like Lendeborg. Minnesota has Rudy Gobert pulling down 14.3 rebounds a game, Jaden McDaniels and Jonathan Kuminga on the wings, and a 100.5 defensive rating against Golden State's 121.1.

The open question

Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo are both out for Minnesota, so the Wolves are missing their 33-point scorer too. Without Lendeborg, a road win over a short-handed team would show the depth is real. A loss would make Denver look like the exception. The Lakers come to Chase Center on Friday for an Emirates NBA Cup game.

Is Yaxel Lendeborg playing tonight against the Timberwolves?

He is listed day-to-day with a foot issue, and NBC Sports Bay Area reported him questionable with left foot inflammation and soreness. His status was not settled as of Wednesday morning.

Is Anthony Edwards playing against the Warriors?

No. Edwards is listed out with a right knee issue, and Donte DiVincenzo is also out for Minnesota.

By the Warriors Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.