The Golden State Warriors have been desperate to get Stephen Curry some offensive help. Thursday, they got it from an unlikely source.
Little-used Gui Santos tied a career-high with 13 points as the Warriors beat the Detroit Pistons, 107-104. He shot 4-for-6 for the game, all from three-point range, while collecting five rebounds and two steals.
Santos was drafted with the No. 55 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, from the Brazilian team Minas. He made the G League’s Next Up game in his first season, then signed an NBA contract with in November 2023.
Santos hasn’t seen the court much this season for the Warriors. His season-high in minutes this season was 12, which happened only because of a blowout loss on Sunday.
Thursday night he played 26 minutes, during which the Warriors outscored the Pistons by seven points. His opportunity came on a night where the Warriors were missing multiple players (Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski), but his hustle and his newfound three-point stroke might force coach Steve Kerr to get Santos more minutes.
Santos is still just 22 years old. If this growth as a player is real, the Warriors might find their midseason addition could be already on their roster.
On a night where Curry went 2-for-14 from deep, the young Brazilian was the surprise sharpshooter they needed.
