Warriors Under Review: Team brought necessary competition in win over Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Steve Kerr frequently says the Warriors are at their best when they feel threatened. 

Since the All-Star break, Golden State has played with a malaise that isn't conducive to their title aspirations. 

But with a matchup against the Thunder Saturday night, the team brought the necessary competitiveness in a dominant 110-88 road win. 

Here are the positives and negatives of the victory: 

Positive

Klay Day

Long known for his superior shooting, Klay Thompson showed his defensive prowess Saturday evening. Guarding Russell Westbrook for most of the night, he helped hound the guard to just 2-of-16 from the field. 

Though the defensive numbers haven't necessarily been on his side in recent years, Thompson has generally been regarded as one of the league's best defenders. This season when matched up against some of the league's best wings, he's been dominant, and if the performance continues, he should be a lock for his first All-NBA defensive team appearance. 

Positive

Team defense

Led by Thompson, the Warriors had their best defensive performance of the season, holding the Thunder to just 32.3 percent from the field and 31 percent from 3-point range. 

Klay Thompson this season as the primary defender on:
James Harden: 31-78 FG (39.7 pct) over 3 games
Donovan Mitchell: 22-78 (28.2 pct) over 3 games
Russell Westbrook: 7-of-31 (22.6 pct) over two games.

— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) March 17, 2019

This season, the Warriors are giving up 111.8 points per contest, ranking 14th in the league. However, in the last two games, they've held their foes to 96 points and 29 percent from beyond the arc, posting a 98.5 defensive rating.

Positive

Dre Day (And Everybody's Celebrating his Defense)  

Though he scored just two points, Andre Iguodala's presence was felt with his defense on Paul George, who made just nine of his 25 shots from the field. 

I could watch Andre Iguodala play defense all day long pic.twitter.com/VHTo3xBohQ

— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) March 17, 2019

On Wednesday in Houston, with Kevin Durant out, Steve Kerr elected to start Iguodala to increase wing defense. Kerr did it again Saturday evening and its no coincidence the Warriors had some of their best defensive moments of the season with Iguodala in the starting lineup

Negative

Alfonzo McKinnie dunk attempts

During a sequence in the second quarter, McKinnie had a free lane to the basket for a highlight dunk over Steven Adams- or so he thought - as the burly big man blocked the attempt. 

A few seconds later, McKinnie got a steal and seemed primed for redemption - only to be blocked by the rim after attempting a fastbreak dunk.

Rough times. 

Tough sequence for Alfonzo McKinnie dunk attempts pic.twitter.com/6GU9ffrjo1

— Brady Klopfer (@BradyKlopferNBA) March 17, 2019