A Golden State Warriors player leaps for a layup while two Phoenix Suns players defend

Golden State Warriors win five straight games after 0-3 start

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The Golden State Warriors have surged to five consecutive wins after a rocky 0-3 start to the 2026-27 season, highlighted by a 116-113 comeback victory over the Phoenix Suns. Despite missing key players like Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, and Kristaps Porzingis, the team’s rapid turnaround suggests their competitive ceiling may be higher than preseason projections indicated.

After falling behind by 17 points early in Monday’s matchup at Chase Center, the Warriors relied on a 25-point second-half explosion from Steph Curry to secure the win. The victory also marked a rare feat for the roster: sweeping a back-to-back set of games, a feat the team managed only twice during the previous season. According to reporting from The San Francisco Standard, the team’s recent momentum is beginning to validate some of the more bullish internal projections held by the organization before the season tipped off.

A rookie transforms the offensive engine

While veteran leadership remains the bedrock of the franchise, the most striking development in this winning streak is the immediate impact of rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Typically, NBA rookies face a steep learning curve characterized by inconsistent production, but the 24-year-old has defied those expectations through the first eight games of the season. Lendeborg has already eclipsed the 30-point mark twice and has avoided the significant “stinker” games that often plague young prospects.

Golden state warriors forward kevin durant

The coaching staff has moved beyond treating Lendeborg as a mere defensive specialist, instead integrating him into high-leverage offensive roles. The team is now utilizing him in high pick-and-rolls and isolating him at the elbows to exploit mismatches. The statistical output from this young player has been nothing short of anomalous for a newcomer:

  • Scored more total points than Kevin Durant.
  • Made more three-pointers than Paul George and James Harden.
  • Recorded more rebounds than Joel Embiid.

This shift in offensive philosophy has changed the team’s dynamic. In a recent matchup against the Clippers, Lendeborg demonstrated a level of shot-making rarely seen in rookies, hitting stepback three-pointers that he seldom practices in training. “He’s changed us dramatically,” coach Steve Kerr noted following the recent stretch of successes.

Curry maintains elite efficiency at 38

As the roster evolves around new talent, the primary engine remains as potent as ever. At 38 years old, Steph Curry continues to operate at a level that defies the traditional aging curves of NBA superstars. He currently leads the league in both Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Box Plus-Minus (BPM), two of the most significant advanced metrics used to measure a player’s total impact on the floor.

Curry is currently averaging 30 points per game while playing just 28.8 minutes. This efficiency allows the Warriors to maintain a high offensive ceiling even when their rotation is stretched thin by injuries. His ability to provide high-volume scoring in limited minutes provides the structural stability necessary for players like Brandin Podziemski to flourish in their evolving roles.

Podziemski, now in his fourth year, has transitioned into a reliable second-side creator. He is currently averaging 17 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.8 rebounds, while also providing significant value through help defense. His development has turned his five-year, $110 million extension into what many analysts view as a significant value play for the front office.

The cost of missing key contributors

The current success is not without its vulnerabilities. The Warriors are essentially “treading water” offensively while waiting for the return of Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody. The team’s recent meltdown against the Memphis Grizzlies served as a stark reminder of the late-game execution issues that have plagued the franchise in recent years. Furthermore, the absence of presumptive starting center Kristaps Porzingis has forced the team to rely heavily on depth players.

Golden state warriors guard steph curry

Charles Bassey has stepped into a significant role, particularly following Draymond Green’s third-quarter ejection during the Suns game. Bassey contributed 19 points and eight rebounds, proving to be a vital piece of the bench rotation. The front office’s decision to add role players such as Georges Niang, Brandon Williams, and Bassey is beginning to pay dividends in terms of roster flexibility.

“Guys are understanding their roles, we’re playing hard, and you’re happy to be rewarded for that effort,” Steph Curry said regarding the team’s recent cohesion.

Challenging the preseason skeptics

Before the season began, sportsbooks and most national pundits were pessimistic about Golden State’s outlook, pegging them as a 37-win team. However, at 5-3, the Warriors are already outperforming those expectations. The difficulty of this stretch cannot be understated; the team has already navigated back-to-back game sets and faced high-level competition, including a hot Memphis Grizzlies squad and a Los Angeles Lakers team centered around MVP candidate Luka Doncic.

Golden state warriors undecorated poster

The Western Conference landscape provides a window of opportunity. While the Oklahoma City Thunder are struggling with injuries and other contenders like the Clippers, Kings, and Jazz are facing internal instability, the path to a top-six seed is more open than many predicted. The Warriors’ ability to turn a disastrous 0-3 start into a winning record suggests that the “old Warriors” era might not be as far in the rearview mirror as the critics claimed.

Whether this hot start is a sustainable trend or a statistical anomaly remains to be seen as the season progresses and the full rotation returns to health.

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