Yaxel Lendeborg outduels Cameron Boozer to lead Warriors past Grizzlies for NBA Summer League championship

Lendeborg vs. Boozer

Lendeborg finished the game with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 turnovers while shooting 9 of 18 from the field and 2 of 6 from 3. It added up to a standout effort from Lendeborg, who entered Sunday averaging 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 2 turnovers in five Summer League games.

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The Warriors are hoping his effort translates to a productive role immediately in his rookie season.

Boozer countered with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 4 turnovers while shooting 7 of 17 from the field and 3 of 7 from 3. He had two late chances to give the Grizzlies the lead, but came up short at the rim against Lendeborg’s defense and then missed an open 3 with 13 seconds remaining.

But the loss won’t much diminish what’s largely been a standout Summer League for Boozer, who joined the Grizzlies via the No. 3 pick in the draft out of Duke touted as a plug-and-play NBA starter with All-NBA upside.

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Boozer largely reinforced those projections as much as one can in Summer League with averages of 18.4 points, 8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals while shooting 46.3% from the field and 29.4% from 3 in five previous Summer League games. Despite Sunday’s loss, it adds up to an effort that should have the Grizzlies excited about their roster rebuild after turning the page on Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Grizzlies also got a strong effort from second-year standout Cedric Coward, who projects to play a starring role alongside Boozer in Memphis. Coward finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block and 1 turnover while hitting all 5 of his 3-point attempts.

Second-year guard LJ Cryer added 15 points and 6 assists for Golden State while shooting 4 of 8 from 3. Deivon Smith matched Lendeborg with 21 points alongside nine rebounds off the Golden State bench.