Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings: The good, the Bad and the Ugly

For the second time this season, the Golden State Warriors emerged victorious over the Sacramento Kings; and this time it was Klay Thompson who delivered the kill-shot.

Missing their leader and All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox, the undermanned Kings battled tooth-and-nail until the very end, almost stealing an incredible win on the road. But the Warriors stuck together, leaning on their defense and experience down the stretch.

The good, the bad and the ugly from the Golden State Warriors’ 102-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Here are some instant observations from Monday’s game:

The Good: Klay Thompson’s late-game heroics

The mark of an all-time shooter is unwavering confidence, even when your shot isn’t falling. Thompson struggled to find his stroke early, shooting just 3-of-12 from the field through the first three quarters; but he stuck with it, impacting the game in a variety of ways before heating up in the final frame.

Thompson played excellent defense in crunch time, staying grounded in isolation and coming up with some huge plays from a help position. He collected three blocks in the fourth quarter, none of which were bigger than his strip of Harrison Barnes with under 30 seconds to play, setting up a go-ahead opportunity for the Dubs.

With Sacramento paying extra attention to Stephen Curry, the ball found Thompson’s hands at the top of the key with three seconds left. He was decisive, taking only one dribble before stepping back into a beautiful midrange jumper for the win. After all the guy’s been through, moments like this mean even more — you love to see it.