Gui Santos shines in Warriors debut as Golden State drops California Classic opener

16 days ago, the Golden State Warriors won the NBA championship.

But 16 days in the timeline of the NBA flies by quickly, and Golden State was back in uniform Saturday as the Warriors and Chase Center hosted the California Classic Summer League tournament for the first time. Their first game back was not pretty, as they lost to the Sacramento Kings 86-68.

The Warriors shot 39.3% from the field including went 6-for-27 from behind the arc. Sacramento first-round selection Keegan Murray dominated, scoring 26 points and grabbing eight rebounds while making four of five three-pointers.

Even in the loss, Warriors rookie Gui Santos brought excitement to the Warrior fanbase with a 23 point, six-rebound performance. The 55th pick overall in last week’s draft was Golden State’s go-to guy, and showed flashes of his scoring ability.

Warriors summer league head coach Seth Cooper:

Santos was good. … He showed a knack for having a really big effect on the game offensively for a guy who was playing in the United States for the first time.”

The Warriors had a hard time getting their offense going in the first half. Aside from Santos, Golden State couldn’t find a consistent scoring threat from the perimeter, and ball movement lacked the zip to shift the Sacramento defense.

Cooper said:

“I thought the ball just stuck a little bit and we over dribbled. … When the ball stuck, the other team was able to load up and Keegan [Murray] was able to make a big difference around the rim.”

When the Warriors were able to get to the rim off dribble penetration, the Kings backline of Murray and Neemias Queta either sent shots to the stands or made Warrior players change their shot in mid-air with their verticality. Queta finished the game with two blocks.

Santos had his own flurry to start the second quarter, scoring nine points to start the frame and forcing Sacramento to switch Murray on to him on the defensive end to disrupt his rhythm.

Defensively, the Warriors strung together stops at certain points in the first half, but couldn’t get stops when they were most needed. Murray and Queta combined for 19 points on 53% shooting in the first half.

The Kings took control of the game in the third quarter. After guard Lester Quinones cut the Sacramento lead to six with a layup to make it a 56-50 game, the Kings went on a 11-2 run to end the quarter with a 67-52 lead.

Murray scored 13 points in the third and was 3-3 from behind the arc. Golden State couldn’t find the right matchup to slow down Murray, and it cost them.

The Warriors offense couldn’t hit enough shots in the fourth and the Kings closed out Golden State with ease. 

Santos was the best player on the floor for the Warriors, showcasing reverse layups and eurosteps around the basket that drew oohs and ahhs from the arena.

Santos thought he played a solid game overall, but was not satisfied after the game:

I think I played well, but we lost so we need to better. … I need to help the team more and see what more I can do.”

Up Next

The Warriors face the Los Angeles Lakers at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 100-66 in the opening game Saturday.

Notes

James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, Ryan Rollins, Moses Moody and Patrick Baldwin Jr. were all inactive for Golden State. According to Cooper, the plan is to have Moody play Sunday against the Lakers.