Sunday Beat is a weekly post featuring the most remarkable performances of the week, z-points-wise.
Kobe Bryant (LAL)
19 pts, 0.41 2PT%, 0.33 3PT%, 0.50 FT%
37 z-pts (1.06), 0.58 z2PT%, 0.31 z3PT%, 0.78 zFT%
Another game-winner by Mr. Clutch. In the Lakers last possession, Bryant faced Ray Allen one-on-one and beat him with a fall-away jumper.
J.J. Redick (ORL)
17 pts, 0.60 2PT%, 0.33 3PT%, 100% FT%
24 z-pts (0.68), 0.65 z2PT%, 0.37 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Redick made three clutch free throws to give Orlando a four-point lead with 1:15 remaining.
Rashard Lewis (ORL)
15 pts, 0.67 2PT%, 0.75 3PT%, 100% FT%
23 z-pts (0.66), 0.80 z2PT%, 0.46 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
With 9 seconds left in the game, Lewis cold-bloodedly sank a couple of free throws to take a three-point lead and help the Magic beat the Pistons.
Aaron Brooks (HOU)
24 pts, 0.36 2PT%, 0.36 3PT%, 0.67 FT%
32 z-pts (1.05), 0.34 z2PT%, 0.38 z3PT%, 0.72 zFT%
Brooks scored 15 of his 24 points in the 4th quarter and overtime (9 and 6, respectively) but couldn’t stop the Suns from winning this game.
Grant Hill (PHO)
13 pts, 0.86 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 100% FT%
20 z-pts (0.40), 0.91 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
With 1:19 left and the Suns leading by two, Hill went on to score 5 consecutive points to put the game away for good.
Zach Randolph (MEM)
22 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.80 FT%
30 z-pts (0.87), 0.55 z2PT%, 0.93 zFT%
Randolph scored the go-ahead basket with 1:07 left, then hit a couple of free thows for a four-point lead with 52 seconds remaining. Crucial win for the Grizzlies’ confidence heading into the second half of the regular season.
Chauncey Billups (DEN)
23 pts, 0.20 2PT%, 0.30 3PT%, 0.89 FT%
27 z-pts (0.86), 0.33 z2PT%, 0.13 z3PT%, 0.83 zFT%
Billups scored 6 points in the last seven minutes of regulation (half of the Nuggets points in that stretch) but missed a clutch three-pointer at the buzzer that would have won it for Denver (note how his z3PT% is lower than his 3PT%). In OT he only scored 3 points on 1-of-4 shooting. An off shooting night for Mr. Big Shot, depite the W.
Arron Afflalo (DEN)
12 pts, 0.80 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 0.67 FT%
23 z-pts (0.75), 0.89 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 0.81 zFT%
Afflalo, on the other hand, was the key in OT. He scored 6 points in the extra period – on perfect shooting-, including the go-ahead bucket with 18 seconds remaining.
Spencer Hawes (SAC)
23 pts, 0.60 2PT%, 0.33 3PT%, 100% FT%
30 z-pts (0.96), 0.44 z2PT%, 0.71 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Spencer Hawes scored 6 points in the 4th, including the game-tying basket with 27 seconds remaining, but he missed a shot to win the game at the end of regulation (see how his z2PT% shows that). In OT, Hawes hit a three to make it 109-107 Kings with 1:36 remaining (see how his z3PT% shows that).
Richard Hamilton (DET)
22 pts, 0.57 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 0.75 FT%
36 z-pts (1.07), 0.64 z2PT%, 0.53 z3PT%, 0.84 zFT%
Rip scored half of his points in the last six minutes of the game. Overall, he went 4-of-6 from the field and 3-of-4 from the line in the 4th quarter. His free throws with 21 seconds left gave the Pistons a four-point lead.
L.A. CLIPPERS @ ATLANTA 97-103
Al Horford (ATL)
16 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.86 FT%
22 z-pts (0.58), 0.62 z2PT%, 0.84 zFT%
With 2:38 remaining and the Hawks up by two, Horford scored five consecutive points to help his team pull away from the Clippers late in the 4th.
CHICAGO @ PHILADELPHIA 103-106
Andre Iguodala (PHI)
25 pts, 0.77 2PT%, 0.17 3PT%, 0.29 FT%
38 z-pts (1.27), 0.63 z2PT%, 0.44 z3PT%, 0.39 zFT%
Iguodala’s free throw with 6 seconds left in regulation tied the game, but he missed the second free throw that could have won it for the Sixers. In overtime, Andre hit a huge trey with 1:19 remaining to give his team a three-point lead, and scored again later to make it 100-105 Philadelphia with 27 seconds left.
Nazr Mohammed (CHA)
23 pts, 0.60 2PT%, 0.71 FT%
28 z-pts (0.77), 0.69 z2PT%, 0.67 zFT%
Mohammed scored 6 of the last 8 Bobcat points of the game in the last two minutes, keeping Charlotte’s hopes of beating the Lakers alive until the very end.
Martell Webster (POR)
21 pts, 0.25 2PT%, 100% 3PT%, 100% FT%
32 z-pts (0.86), 0.10 z2PT%, 100% z3PT%, 100% zFT%
10 of Webster’s 21 points came down the stretch, as he made a couple of clutch treys (one to make it 91-87 Blazers with 22 seconds left) on 2-of-2 shooting, and four clutch free throws in the last 10 seconds of the game.
Caron Butler (WAS)
31 pts, 0.56 2PT%, 0.25 3PT%, 0.89 FT%
55 z-pts (1.79), 0.75 z2PT%, 0.20 z3PT%, 0.92 zFT%
Butler capped his 14-point 4th quarter performance with a few decisive plays down the stretch. Caron scored 6 of the Wizards last 7 points in the game, including the winning shot.
Rashard Lewis (ORL)
12 pts, 0.60 2PT%, 0.40 3PT%
33 z-pts (1.09), 0.80 z2PT%, 0.85 z3PT%
Lewis almost won the game for Orlando with a three-pointer that gave his team a one-point lead with 4 seconds remaining. Rashard scored all the Magic’s points in the last 3:18 (7 points).
Corey Brewer (MIN)
14 pts, 0.14 2PT%, 0.75 3PT%, 100% FT%
25 z-pts (0.65), 0.17 z2PT%, 0.84 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Brewer was key down the stretch for the Wolves, scoring six points (a 3 plus three clutch free throws) in one minute.
c (DET)
13 pts, 0.75 2PT%, 100% FT%
20 z-pts (0.48), 0.73 z2PT%, 100% zFT%
Maxiell scored 9 points in the 4th quarter on 4-of-6 and was a key factor in the Pistons late run. “Max really had it going at the end, and that’s why we rode him instead of going back to Jonas (Jerebko)”, Detroit coach John Kuester said. Jerebko scored 20 points on 9-for-9 shooting in the first three quarters.
Al Jefferson (MIN)
23 pts, 0.65 2PT%, 0.25 FT%
34 z-pts (0.91), 0.80 z2PT%, 0.26 zFT%
Excellent game by Jefferson, who scored 16 of his 23 points in the 4th quarter (on perfect shooting) to rally the Timberwolves past the Grizzlies.
Andre Iguodala (PHI)
14 pts, 0.33 2PT%, 0.40 3PT%, 100% FT%
25 z-pts (0.59), 0.26 z2PT%, 0.64 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Iguodala scored 10 of his 14 points in the 4th quarter without a miss. His three-pointer with 1:37 remaining made it 97-91 Philly and the Sixers never looked back from there.
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