Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos sat out Monday’s 116-113 win over the Phoenix Suns with left knee tendinitis, the reason given on the official injury report, as Nathaniel Holloway of Athlon Sports reported. After Sunday’s win over the LA Clippers, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr had said Santos would not play against the Suns.
Santos had started four consecutive games until Sunday, when Kerr moved him to the bench to limit his minutes, allowing Georges Niang to make his second start of the year. He played nine first-half minutes on Sunday before sitting the entire second half.
Aside from Santos, Brandon Williams was questionable with a left quad contusion, and Al Horford was ruled out with bilateral lower-back injury management on the second night of a back-to-back. Golden State won anyway, improving to 5-3, with Stephen Curry scoring 34 points.
A Minutes Cut Didn’t Prevent a Full Absence
Golden State tried to manage this incrementally rather than shutting Santos down outright. Kerr moved him to the bench Sunday specifically to limit his load, and he still only lasted a half before sitting the rest of that game.
That he was out entirely by Monday suggests the knee has not settled on the team’s preferred schedule. Winning comfortably without him gives the Warriors no urgency to rush a decision, and his knee was already costing him availability a week ago in Denver.
Thursday Against Miami Is the Next Decision Point
No return date has been reported. The Warriors next play Thursday, Nov. 5, against the Miami Heat at Chase Center, which is the next game his status has to be set for — and with two days off before it, the schedule favors giving the knee more time rather than less.
Sources: Nathaniel Holloway, Athlon Sports; Joey Akeley, Sports Illustrated
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