How Warriors’ defensive turnaround could keep them on NBA title path

For much of the season, the Warriors have struggled to find a defensive identity as they fight through the rigors that come with chasing a third consecutive NBA title. Lapses have persisted in recent games, lowlighted by a home stretch in which they gave up more than 115 points per game and lost to the Phoenix Suns, the worst team in the Western Conference, less than a week ago. Now, after a win Wednesday night in Houston, the Warriors have seemed to reach back into their championship bag of tricks, producing their best defensive performance of the season in Saturday night's defining win over the Thunder.