Sunday Beat is a weekly post featuring the most remarkable performances of the week, z-points-wise.
Paul Pierce (BOS)
17 pts, 0.27 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 0.83 FT%
31 z-pts (0.88), 0.32 z2PT%, 0.72 z3PT%, 0.95 zFT%
The great thing about z-points is that we don’t need to watch the game to figure out who made important contributions to win. Pierce stands out in the box score with 31 adjusted z-points (0.88 z-points), thanks to his 7 points in the last 3:24, including a key 3-pointer for the lead with 1:38 and a couple of clutch free throws with 2 seconds left.
Ray Allen (BOS)
15 pts, 0.44 2PT%, 0.17 3PT%, 100% FT%
23 z-pts (0.65), 0.38 z2PT%, 0.14 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
The other great contributor for the Celtics was Ray Allen. Although he only got 4 of his 15 points from free throws (27%), his zFTM compared to his total z-points is .34 to .65 (52%), which shows clutchness from the free throw line. With 5 seconds remaining, Allen went to the line and cooly sank his two free throws for a three-point lead.
GOLDEN STATE @ L.A. LAKERS 94-104
Pau Gasol (LAL)
14 pts, 0.36 2PT%, 100% FT%
22 z-pts (0.51), 0.43 z2PT%, 100% zFT%
Pau was the key down the stretch, as he scored 6 points (4 from free throws) in a 8-2 run by the Lakers late in the 4th quarter. Again, we see that while he only got 28% of his points from free throws, in terms of z-points that percentage jumps to 41%.
Mike Miller (MIN)
17 pts, 0.00 2PT%, 100% 3PT%, 100% FT%
25 z-pts (0.59), 0.00 z2PT%, 100% z3PT%, 100% zFT%
It was Miller who blew the game open for the Wolves down the stretch. With 4:30 remaining and a tied ballgame, Miller made three back-to-back-to-back treys to fuel an 11-2 run in just 2 minutes.
Rudy Gay (MEM)
29 pts, 0.56 2PT%, 100% 3PT%, 0.80 FT%
34 z-pts (1.06), 0.60 z2PT%, 100% z3PT%, 0.82 zFT%
Gay exploded in OT, scoring 8 of his team’s 12 points in the period on 4-of-5 shooting.
Zach Randolph (MEM)
24 pts, 0.43 2PT%, 0.50 FT%
27 z-pts (0.86), 0.55 z2PT%, 0.52 zFT%
With one second remaining in regulation, Randolph scored the tying bucket for the Grizzlies, sending the game to overtime.
Quentin Richardson (LAC)
16 pts, 0.44 2PT%, 0.67 3PT%, 100% FT%
27 z-pts (0.75), 0.42 z2PT%, 0.79 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
A 3-pointer and two free throws from Richardson sparked an 8-4 run for Miami in the last 1:52 to close out the 4th quarter and win this game.
Carlos Boozer (UTA)
16 pts, 0.47 2PT%, 100% FT%
24 z-pts (0.64), 0.54 z2PT%, 100% zFT%
With 3 minutes left and the game tied, the Jazz went on a 7-2 run led by Boozer’s 6 points (a couple of buckets and two free throws) to finally shed the Hornets.
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (MIL)
18 pts, 0.54 2PT%, 0.75 FT%
3 z-pts (0.04), 0.34 z2PT%, 0.39 zFT%
Plenty of garbage time in the Rocket’s trashing of the Bucks. Despite being the Buck’s leading scorer, z-points show the real impact of Mbah a Moute’s performance. 16 of his 18 points came in a fourth quarter that started with a dismal 100-66 score, a 34-point lead for the Rockets.
Carmelo Anthony (DEN)
40 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.25 3PT%, 0.76 FT%
53 z-pts (1.92), 0.73 z2PT%, 0.35 z3PT%, 0.81 zFT%
Anthony’s motivation heading into this game was sky-high. Melo scored 11 points in the 4th period and added 6 more in overtime, on a combined 7-of-8 shooting. And to top it all, he ended his night with the game winning shot over LeBron.
LeBron James (CLE)
43 pts, 0.58 2PT%, 0.11 3PT%, 0.71 FT%
59 z-pts (2.13), 0.66 z2PT%, 0.10 z3PT%, 0.73 zFT%
To put things in perspective, the last time a player had at least 40 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds in a game it was 1962 (the player was Oscar Robertson). The King scored 18 points in the 4th and added 6 more in OT, but he missed his share down the stretch, particularly from beyond the arc, as he missed his four 3-point attempts in the extra period (including a potential game-winner at the buzzer).
Lamar Odom (LAL)
13 pts, 0.57 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 0.67 FT%
18 z-pts (0.42), 0.68 z2PT%, 0.66 z3PT%, 0.68 zFT%
Odom’s layup with 2:24 remaining cut the Celtics lead to one point, but the Lakers didn’t score again. The team missed Kobe Bryant’s leadership in crunch time.
John Salmons (MIL)
19 pts, 0.30 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 0.80 FT%
30 z-pts (0.79), 0.27 z2PT%, 0.70 z3PT%, 0.76 zFT%
Salmons’ clutch 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining gave the Bucks a four-point lead (see his z3PT%). Overall, he scored 8 of his 19 points in the 4th quarter to complete an excellent performance in his first game as a Buck.
Hedo Turkoglu (TOR)
16 pts, 0.58 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 100% FT%
24 z-pts (0.57), 0.65 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Turkoglu made the difference down the stretch as he scored 5 points in a decisive 7-0 run by the Raptors late in the 4th.
OKLAHOMA CITY @ NEW YORK 121-118
Kevin Durant (OKL)
36 pts, 0.42 2PT%, 0.33 3PT%, 0.93 FT%
50 z-pts (1.85), 0.46 z2PT%, 0.50 z3PT%, 0.97 zFT%
KD stole the show in T-Mac’s return to action, scoring 36 points in this hotly contested matchup. Durant’s 3-pointer with 6 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game and sent it to overtime, where he added 7 points, including the go-ahead basket with 16 seconds to go.
Nick Collison (OKL)
10 pts, 0.56 2PT%
16 z-pts (0.60), 0.67 z2PT%
Collison helped his team with 4 key points in overtime, including a go-ahead basket with 32 seconds remaining.
Eddie House (NYK)
24 pts, 0.67 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 100% FT%
38 z-pts (1.38), 0.73 z2PT%, 0.48 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
On the Knicks side, newcomer Eddie House was the best player in crunch time with 12 points in the 4th quarter and 5 more in overtime.
Jason Kidd (DAL)
21 pts, 0.67 2PT%, 0.60 3PT%, 0.89 FT%
31 z-pts (0.73), 0.69 z2PT%, 0.76 z3PT%, 0.99 zFT%
Fantastic 4th quarter from Kidd, who scored 14 of his 21 points on perfect shooting.
T.J. Ford (IND)
23 pts, 0.53 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 0.67 FT%
33 z-pts (0.80), 0.62 z2PT%, 0.72 z3PT%, 0.99 zFT%
T.J. was the top performer in this fast-paced game, with 12 of his 23 points coming in the 4th quarter.
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