Brandon Dill | Associated Press
This 2014-15 NBA season has seen one of the most exciting regular seasons in recent years. The return of LeBron James, the multiple buzzer-beating victories, and the incredible scoring performances we’ve seen has set the stage for a great finish to the season. In this segment, we look at the top 10 clutch scorers in the NBA. To do that, we found the top per game scorers (minimum 20 games) who have played in games that were within five points or less in the last five minutes of regulation.
On a side note, we did not include some players like K. Durant or C. Anthony for lack of games played this season.
10. Mike Conley
Mike Conley starts off the countdown averaging 2.7 points per game in the last five minutes of a game within five points. He does it shooting an even 50% from the field and 79.3% from the free throw line, helping his Memphis Grizzlies to a 25-11 record in the 36 close games they have played this season. Conley and the Grizzlies are currently fighting to hold onto their second seed in the Western Conference.
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9. Dwyane Wade
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade is also averaging 2.7 points in the last five minutes of a game within five points. He’s doing it shooting just 27.9% from the field, but is 80.8% from the free throw line. Wade has had some heroic plays of late like this one, and it’s led his Heat to a 15-10 record in the 25 close games they’ve played this season:
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Noah Graham | Getty Images
8. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is averaging 2.8 points in the last five minutes of a game within five points. Most consider him one of the most clutch players in the NBA, but his 39.5% shooting percentage says otherwise. He does shoot 93.3% from the charity stripe, however, and that along with the play of Klay Thompson is probably why the Warriors are 17-4 in close games this season
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Danny Bollinger | Getty Images
7. LaMarcus Aldridge
Davis is averaging 2.8 points in the last five minutes of a game within five points. He shoots a solid 56.1% for a post-up/spot up jump-shooter, and add that in to his incredibly 93.5% from the free throw line, and you’ve got one hell of a clutch player. His Blazers are just 19-14 in close games, something that must be somewhat worrisome for the team.
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Scott Halleran | Getty Images
6. James Harden
James Harden is also considered one of the top clutch players in the NBA this season, but the percentages say otherwise. Harden is averaging 2.8 points in the last five minutes of a game within five points. But he does it shooting just 41.5% from the field and 76.6% from the free-throw line. Whatever he’s doing on the court, despite the low percentages, has his team at a 20-12 record in those close games.
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Marcio Jose Sanchez | Getty Images
5. DeMarcus Cousins
The beast inside in DeMarcus Cousins is averaging 2.9 points per game in the last five minutes of a game within five points. He does it all for the Sacramento Kings shooting 51.4% from the field, and an even more impressive 93.9% from the free throw line! His Kings however, are not very good in clutch situations as they are 11-12 in the 23 close games they’ve had this season. Here’s a look at Cousins’ game winner against the Suns earlier this season.
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Jerome Miron | USA TODAY Sports
4. Monta Ellis
Dallas Mavericks guard Monta Ellis is averaging 3.0 points in the last five minutes of a game within five points. Of course with Dirk getting older, Ellis has become the clear-cut scorer, causing his field-goal percentages to slip a little. He shoots the ball at 46.0% from the field and 81.4% from the free throw line, leading his team to a 23-9 record in a very high 32 close matchups this season.
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Kyle Terada | USA Today Sports
3. Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is averaging 3.2 points per game in the last five minutes of a game within five points. Westbrook is a high volume shooter, however, and is at 36.6% from the field in close matchups along with 78.6% from the free-throw line. The Oklahoma City Thunder have played in 26 of those close games and have a record of 16-10, largely because they’ve missed even
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Derick E. Hingle | USA TODAY Sports
2. Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is averaging 3.3 points per game in last five minutes of a game within five points. Davis is also shooting 64.4% from the field in that span. Of the 26 close contests he’s participated in, the New Orleans Pelicans are 13-13 in those games. Surprisingly however, Davis shoots the ball at 96.3 from the free-throw stripe, showing his clutch shooting from that distance. They’re fighting for a playoff spot in the West, so anything Davis can give them will help.
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Gary A. Vasquez | USA TODAY Sports
1. LeBron James
LeBron James is averaging the most points at 4.0 per game in the last five minutes of a game within five points. James is also shooting a very solid 51.0% from the field in that span. That has helped his Cavaliers to a 14-7 record in those 21 contests this season. LeBron is also shooting a solid 79.4% from the free-throw line despite his mid-season struggles in that part of his game.