Golden State Warriors guard Gui Santos described his late basket against the Memphis Grizzlies as a career highlight after Monday’s 114-113 win at Chase Center. “It’s great. Feels good. Especially the way the game was… the last quarter was different. Everybody happy, everybody just playing for each other,” Santos said.
Santos credited a team-wide energy shift that sparked the comeback. “[Anthony Vereen] had a great speech for us… giving us energy… wake us up,” he said, highlighting how the coaching staff’s guidance helped the Warriors respond after trailing most of the game.
He emphasized Al Horford’s role in the late surge. “Al is amazing… when somebody drives by, you know he’s gonna be there. He’s 39 years old but still playing like he’s 20,” Santos said, praising the veteran’s defensive presence and leadership on both ends.
The young guard acknowledged how Horford’s example inspired his teammates. “You see him running, fighting for the ball… you say, yeah, if he’s fighting that way, I’ve got to run for this guy on defense. We got to play together to help him too,” Santos explained.
Golden State overcame a 113-103 deficit in the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run, turning stops into transition opportunities. Santos’ go-ahead layup with 19 seconds remaining capped the sequence, following contributions from Pat Spencer, Moses Moody, and Brandin Podziemski.
The Warriors played without Stephen Curry for the fourth consecutive game due to a right knee injury. Santos noted that ball movement and depth were critical, with seven players scoring in double figures. “The last game-winning basket feels like… the fruit at the top of the cake,” he said, emphasizing the small but decisive moments that led to victory.
Horford sealed the win with a late steal, demonstrating Golden State’s defensive execution when it mattered most. “Al said actually that the defensive spark was sort of what got you guys through to make that comeback,” Santos added.
The victory improved the Warriors to 29-25, keeping them in eighth place in the Western Conference. Memphis fell to 20-32 after losing nine of its last 11 games, remaining outside the play-in positions. Golden State will host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, while the Grizzlies travel to Denver to finish their five-game road trip before the All-Star break.
