Al Horford says the Warriors ‘have to really lean in on our defense’ without Stephen Curry, and Yaxel Lendeborg rates his confidence ‘6 out of 10’

The Golden State Warriors’ first game without Stephen Curry for the long haul is against the hottest team in the NBA. Before Friday’s shootaround in San Antonio, Al Horford said the way through the next few weeks starts at the defensive end. “I think we have to really lean in on our defense. Our defense has to be really good,” he said. “We have to make sure that we all just step up a little more on the offense. Obviously, it’s a big part of what we do, but we just all have to do a little more.”

Al Horford on the Warriors without Steph Curry: “We really have to lean in on our defense.”

They were seventh in defensive rating during eight-game win streak pic.twitter.com/iHUmVwRqNr

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 13, 2026

Curry has an oblique abdominal tear from Wednesday’s 115-108 loss in Houston. The team will re-evaluate him in two weeks, and he is expected to miss close to a month. He stayed with the team on the road trip and was in San Antonio on Friday, and Golden State is 8-4 going into the Emirates NBA Cup game against the Spurs, who have won 10 straight.

‘Defending and rebounding’

Anthony Slater noted that the Warriors were seventh in defensive rating during their eight-game winning streak, which ended in Houston. Horford said that is the part of the team that has to carry more now. “We just have to be really sharp and make sure that we do a really good job defending and rebounding,” he said. “I feel like we’ve been doing a good job these first 11 games, 12 games or so, but I just think that we have to continue to double down on that even more.”

He called Victor Wembanyama a “very unique” test. “All the problems that he presents, playing not only inside but outside as well, and defensively the challenges that he presents as well,” Horford said. “So we have to make sure that we do a good job as a team, really trying to contain him and really making him take tough shots.” On offense, he said, the answer without Curry is “really good ball movement” to “generate good looks.”

Lendeborg: ‘Probably like 6 out of 10’

Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who scored 25 points with 10 rebounds after Curry left in Houston, said his job changes now. “I gotta be a lot more aggressive. Definitely have to be more in the score-first mindset now,” he said. “My mindset so far has been like, you know, just support Steph.” He said he and Brandin Podziemski will have to do “a lot of extra scoring.”

Asked how comfortable he is taking that on, given that scoring first is not his instinct, he was honest. “Probably like 6 out of 10, honestly,” he said. “It’ll be fun, you know, trying to figure out what ways I can score best or what I gotta do to be able to be an efficient scorer.” The rest, he said, is the question of whether he can “live up to it and be able to help out the team the way I want to. Time will tell.”

Yaxel Lendeborg said he has to be “a lot more aggressive” without Steph Curry and is a “6 out of 10” in confidence he can do it

“The other four is like: Am I going to be able to live up to it?” pic.twitter.com/BTktYl54YZ

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 13, 2026

He also has a plan for Wembanyama. “I’m gonna try to shoot as many threes as I can tonight,” Lendeborg said. “Just try to bait him into helping out, maybe we get some more kick-outs. And try to rough him up.” Asked about the tallest player he has ever faced, he guessed Wembanyama is “like 7-foot-10.”

Yaxel Lendeborg on facing Victor Wembanyama: “What does he average, like five blocks?”

“I’m gonna try to shoot as many 3s as I can tonight, try to bait him into helping out…oh, and try to rough him up as much as we can.”

Tallest player he’s faced.

“Wemby’s like 7-foot-10?” pic.twitter.com/GIqgS7OXGz

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 13, 2026

Who else is out

The guard group is still thin. Brandon Williams, who is out with a hamstring strain, got up stand-still jumpers on the court after shootaround, but he has not been cleared. Gary Payton II (knee inflammation) also missed Wednesday’s game, and Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody are working back from knee injuries. That leaves more of the ball-handling with Podziemski, who is averaging 23.5 points over his last two games, De’Anthony Melton and LJ Cryer.

What’s next

The Warriors play at San Antonio on Friday, Nov. 13, at 9:30 p.m. ET, which is 4:30 a.m. Saturday in Cairo, then visit New Orleans on Monday, Nov. 16. Our injuries page will track Curry and Williams.