Sunday Beat is a weekly post featuring the most remarkable performances of the week, z-points-wise.

SAN ANTONIO @ DETROIT 101-109

Manu Ginobili (SAS)
21 pts, 0.22 2PT%, 0.43 3PT%, 0.89 FT%
37 z-pts (1.04), 0.46 z2PT%, 0.53 z3PT%, 0.86 zFT%

Despite losing the game, Manu Ginobili was sensational at the end of the 4th, scoring 11 points in the last 2:19 of regulation (including the tying basket that sent the game to OT). However, he couldn’t stay hot in the extra period, where he only scored one point.

ATLANTA @ GOLDEN STATE 104-108

Monta Ellis (GSW)
26 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.40 3PT%, 0.67 FT%
38 z-pts (1.00), 0.52 z2PT%, 0.36 z3PT%, 0.82 zFT%

With the game tied at 101 and 2:43 remaining, the Warriors made a 7-3 run to top the Hawks. Monta Ellis led that run with 5 of the Warrior’s last 7 points.

UTAH @ PORTLAND 93-89

Carlos Boozer (UTA)
22 pts, 0.47 2PT%, 0.44 FT%
37 z-pts (0.89), 0.57 z2PT%, 0.64 zFT%

Boozer’s shot at the buzzer tied the game. He scored 6 points in the 4th quarter and 3 more in overtime.

Kyrylo Fesenko (UTA)
8 pts, 0.75 2PT%, 0.40 FT%
13 z-pts (0.32), 0.87 z2PT%, 0.28 zFT%

Fesenko scored 4 points in overtime, helping the Jazz take the lead early in the extra period.

PHOENIX @ OKLAHOMA CITY 104-102

Jason Richardson (PHO)
20 pts, 0.46 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 0.67 FT%
44 z-pts (1.25), 0.74 z2PT%, 0.49 z3PT%, 0.93 zFT%

Richarson beat the Thunder with this nice floater at the buzzer. See how his z2PT% is higher than his normal 2PT%, reflecting clutchness from two-point range.

L.A. LAKERS @ MEMPHIS 99-98

Kobe Bryant (LAL)
32 pts, 0.67 2PT%, 0.75 3PT%, 0.60 FT%
57 z-pts (1.67), 0.47 z2PT%, 0.93 z3PT%, 0.51 zFT%

Kobe, Kobe, Kobe! Another super clutch shot by the Lakers superstar. Kobe beat the Grizzlies with a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left in regulation. Just before that, he had tied the game with another trey.

PHILADELPHIA @ GOLDEN STATE 110-102

Lou Williams (PHI)
26 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.62 3PT%, 100% FT%
37 z-pts (0.67), 0.71 z2PT%, 0.70 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

When the Warriors cut the Sixers lead to 3 with just 3:55 remaining, Williams responded with 6 straight points to close the game out.

DETROIT @ L.A. CLIPPERS 91-97

Rasual Butler (LAC)
16 pts, 0.29 2PT%, 0.30 3PT%, 100% FT%
33 z-pts (1.01), 0.24 z2PT%, 0.52 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

Butler made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 25 seconds left, then made two free throws to make it 91-95 Clippers with 10 seconds remaining.

Richard Hamilton (DET)
21 pts, 0.38 2PT%, 0.43 3PT%, 0.22 FT%
30 z-pts (0.94), 0.24 z2PT%, 0.78 z3PT%, 0.31 zFT%

Hamilton made three consecutive 3-pointers down the stretch, the last one to give the Pistons the lead with 44 seconds left.

DALLAS @ ATLANTA 111-103

Jason Kidd (DAL)
19 pts, 0.37 2PT%, 0.40 3PT%, 0.50 FT%
36 z-pts (0.99), 0.13 z2PT%, 0.65 z3PT%, 0.50 zFT%

In just 2 minutes of play at the end of regulation, Kidd made three consecutive three pointers to keep the Mavs in the game.

Mike Bibby (ATL)
16 pts, 0.33 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%
24 z-pts (0.66), 0.29 z2PT%, 0.61 z3PT%

Bibby responded to Kidd 3s with his own couple 3-pointers during the same stretch.

NEW YORK @ WASHINGTON 118-116

Al Harrington (NYK)
37 pts, 0.54 2PT%, 0.62 3PT%, 0.67 FT%
49 z-pts (1.68), 0.61 z2PT%, 0.55 z3PT%, 0.61 zFT%

Terrific 4th quarter by Harrington, who scored 17 points in the period. He also hit a couple of clutch free throws at the end of overtime.

David Lee (NYK)
25 pts, 0.56 2PT%, 0.83 FT%
43 z-pts (1.46), 0.71 z2PT%, 0.81 zFT%

Lee scored 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting in the 4th quarter, then added 4 more in overtime, including the winning layup.

CLEVELAND @ TORONTO 126-118

LeBron James (CLE)
36 pts, 0.70 2PT%, 0.25 3PT%, 0.94 FT%
48 z-pts (1.48), 0.73 z2PT%, 0.13 z3PT%, 0.97 zFT%

LeBron was great in the 4th, scoring 12 points and tying the game in two consecutive plays at the end of regulation.

Hedo Turkoglu (TOR)
18 pts, 0.60 2PT%, 0.33 3PT%
28 z-pts (0.88), 0.72 z2PT%, 0.27 z3PT%

Turkoglu scored 9 of his 18 points in the 4th, 5 of which came in a key 5-0 run by the Raptors down the stretch.

NBA Photos

Sunday Beat is a weekly post featuring the most remarkable performances of the week, z-points-wise.

L.A. LAKERS @ TORONTO 105-106

Hedo Turkoglu (TOR)
9 pts, 0.00 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 100% FT%
27 z-pts (0.81), 0.00 z2PT%, 0.49 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

Turkoglu’s free throws with 1.2 seconds left lifted the Raptors over the Lakers. “I was surprised. I thought I wasn’t going to go to the line,” Turkoglu said. “Usually I don’t rely on that because sometimes you get calls and sometimes you don’t.”

Andrea Bargnani (TOR)
22 pts, 0.54 2PT%, 0.17 3PT%, 100% FT%
28 z-pts (0.82), 0.68 z2PT%, 0.12 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

The Italian scored 12 of his 22 points in the 4th quarter. His last three points came from an And-1 with 1:15 remaining to put the Raptors one point behind the Lakers, setting up the stage for Turkoglu’s clutch free throws at the end. The Lakers only scored two points in the last 3:23.

INDIANA @ PHILADELPHIA 109-98

Dahntay Jones (IND)
18 pts, 0.57 2PT%, 0.67 FT%
25 z-pts (0.64), 0.62 z2PT%, 0.81 zFT%

In a two-minute span late in the 4th quarter, Jones scored 7 points (And-1 included) to help the Pacers pull away from the Sixers. 11 of his 18 points came in the 4th quarter.

CHICAGO @ SAN ANTONIO 98-93

Joakim Noah (CHI)
11 pts, 0.80 2PT%, 0.60 FT%
18 z-pts (0.55), 0.93 z2PT%, 0.40 zFT%

With the game tied at 93 and 37 seconds left, Noah finished strong as he scored Chicago’s last five points to give the Bulls their third win in a row.

PHOENIX @ UTAH 115-124

Wesley Matthews (UTA)
21 pts, 0.43 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 0.86 FT%
30 z-pts (0.66), 0.42 z2PT%, 0.55 z3PT%, 0.92 zFT%

Matthews scored 10 points in the last quarter and sparked the late run that ultimately put the game away for the Jazz.

NEW ORLEANS @ PORTLAND 98-97

Chris Paul (NOR)
24 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.60 3PT%, 100% FT%
41 z-pts (1.17), 0.63 z2PT%, 0.50 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

The Blazers made a defensive mistake leaving Paul open in the last seconds of the game. He made them pay as he hit a clutch jumper with 3.8 left to win the game. David West gets credit for the assist (2 assists vs. 10.23 z-assists).

CHARLOTTE @ PHOENIX 114-109

Stephen Jackson (CHA)
30 pts, 0.47 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 0.67 FT%
37 z-pts (1.09), 0.49 z2PT%, 0.53 z3PT%, 0.70 zFT%

Jackson wasn’t great in crunch time, scoring 6 points in the 4th quarter and OT combined on just 2-of-8, but his three-pointer with 19 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game and forced the extra period (in the last possession of regulation, Jared Dudley missed a trey that would have won it for Phoenix – see how his z3PT% drops as a result).

Steve Nash (PHO)
23 pts, 0.15 2PT%, 0.56 3PT%, 100% FT%
29 z-pts (0.85), 0.20 z2PT%, 0.61 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

Bad shooting night for Nash, who still managed to score 8 points in the last minutes of regulation to keep the Suns in the game.

GOLDEN STATE @ SACRAMENTO 96-99

Beno Udrih (SAC)
24 pts, 0.57 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 100% FT%
31 z-pts (0.62), 0.50 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

Udrih scored Sacramento’s last five points – in the last 20 seconds of the game- from the free throw line, going 5-of-5 as the Kings escaped alive the Warriors’ late run.

MEMPHIS @ DETROIT 99-93

Marc Gasol (MEM)
15 pts, 0.40 2PT%, 0.33 3PT%, 100% FT%
20 z-pts (0.49), 0.56 z2PT%, 0.34 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

A sensational Marc Gasol scored the Grizz’s last 8 points (6 of them from the free throw line) to beat the Pistons in Detroit.

PHILADELPHIA @ MILWAUKEE 88-91

Brandon Jennings (MIL)
18 pts, 0.47 2PT%, 0.33 3PT%, 0.33 FT%
28 z-pts (0.76), 0.63 z2PT%, 0.40 z3PT%, 0.27 zFT%

With the game tied and 22 seconds remaining, Jennings scored the go-ahead bucket for Milwaukee. Those two points alone are worth 46% of the rookie’s total z-points.

TORONTO @ NEW YORK 106-104

Jarrett Jack (TOR)
9 pts, 100% 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 0.75 FT%
20 z-pts (0.60), 100% z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 0.77 zFT%

Jack was key in the last minute as he scored the go-ahead basket with 50 seconds remaining and later hit a free throw for a two-point lead with 7 seconds to go.

BOSTON @ ORLANDO 94-96

Rashard Lewis (ORL)
23 pts, 0.60 2PT%, 0.67 3PT%, 0.83 FT%
40 z-pts (1.23), 0.85 z2PT%, 0.78 z3PT%, 0.83 zFT%

Good stuff from Lewis, who drove past Kevin Garnett to make the winning layup in the last second. Rasheed Wallace had a great look to win it for Boston in the ensuing possession but missed the shot (see how his z3PT% shows that).

WASHINGTON @ NEW JERSEY 81-79

Earl Boykins (WAS)
15 pts, 0.54 2PT%, 0.50 FT%
32 z-pts (0.97), 0.66 z2PT%, 0.50 zFT%

The little guy hit another big shot. With .4 seconds left Boykins took advantage of a screen to get off a shot and bury the Nets’ hopes for a win.

Brook Lopez (NJN)
17 pts, 0.43 2PT%, 0.62 FT%
25 z-pts (0.75), 0.52 z2PT%, 0.57 zFT%

Lopez’s layup tied the game at 79 with 13 seconds left, but Boykins last-second heroics sentenced the game.

PORTLAND @ HOUSTON 100-104

Carl Landry (HOU)
21 pts, 0.46 2PT%, 0.64 FT%
35 z-pts (0.87), 0.58 z2PT%, 0.78 zFT%

Landry scored 15 of his 21 points in the 4th and was the key to the Rockets’ win over the Blazers.

PORTLAND @ DALLAS 114-112

Andre Miller (POR)
52 pts, 0.70 2PT%, 100% 3PT%, 0.78 FT%
65 z-pts (2.53), 0.82 z2PT%, 100% z3PT%, 0.90 zFT%

Terrific game by Miller, who scored 18 points in the 4th quarter on 7-of-8 shooting and added 7 more in overtime on 3-of-3 shooting, to highlight the Mavs with an amazing 2.53 z-points.

Juwan Howard (POR)
2 pts, 0.33 2PT%
7 z-pts (0.26), 0.76 z2PT%

Howard scored the go-ahead basket with 44 seconds left in overtime to lift the Blazers over the Mavs in this highly contested game.

Dirk Nowitzki (DAL)
28 pts, 0.47 2PT%, 100% FT%
38 z-pts (1.44), 0.32 z2PT%, 100% zFT%

Nowitzki scored 14 fourth-quarter points on 5-of-8 but missed a potentially game-winning shot at the end of regulation. In OT, Dirk went cold as he made only one of five shots, including a missed fade-away jumper to tie the game at the buzzer.

NBA Photos

Sunday Beat is a weekly post featuring the most remarkable performances of the week, z-points-wise.

CHICAGO @ CHARLOTTE 108-113

Stephen Jackson (CHA)
25 pts, 0.56 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 0.71 FT%
31 z-pts (0.86), 0.51 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 0.89 zFT%

With 17 seconds left, Jackson hit a couple of free throws to give the Bobcats a three-point lead and seal the game.

DETROIT @ DALLAS 93-98

Dirk Nowitzki (DAL)
22 pts, 0.45 2PT%, 100% FT%
31 z-pts (0.83), 0.44 z2PT%, 100% zFT%

Facing a similar situation, Nowitzki hit two clutch free throws to put Dallas three points ahead with 10 seconds remaining.

MEMPHIS @ PORTLAND 109-105

O.J. Mayo (MEM)
27 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.67 3PT%, 0.50 FT%
47 z-pts (1.35), 0.60 z2PT%, 0.62 z3PT%, 0.65 zFT%

Mayo scored 10 of his 27 points in the 4th quarter, including a layup to tie the game with 30 seconds left and two points more from the line to help Memphis beat the Blazers in Portland.

PHOENIX @ SACRAMENTO 113-109

Amare Stoudemire (PHO)
24 pts, 0.57 2PT%, 100% FT%
33 z-pts (0.89), 0.56 z2PT%, 100% zFT%

Stoudemire scored 8 points in the 4th quarter, four of them in the last 1:09, as the Suns pulled away from the Kings down the stretch.

Beno Udrih (SAC)
8 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 100% FT%
19 z-pts (0.50), 0.52 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

Udrih scored all of his 8 points in the 4th quarter. He went 3-of-5 and added a couple of free throws.

BOSTON @ MIAMI 112-106

Rajon Rondo (BOS)
25 pts, 0.90 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 0.87 FT%
36 z-pts (1.25), 0.89 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 0.88 zFT%

Rondo beat the buzzer to tie the game in regulation thanks to a perfectly executed play with just .6 seconds left, then he scored 4 points in the last minute of overtime to seal the game.

Ray Allen (BOS)
22 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.75 3PT%, 0.87 FT%
27 z-pts (0.93), 0.46 z2PT%, 0.90 z3PT%, 0.74 zFT%

Allen wasn’t bad himself. He scored 9 points in the 4th quarter without missing a shot or free throw, then added 4 more at the end of overtime to help the Celtics win this game.

Dwyane Wade (MIA)
44 pts, 0.44 2PT%, 0.63 3PT%, 0.69 FT%
58 z-pts (1.98), 0.54 z2PT%, 0.32 z3PT%, 0.83 zFT%

Wade was having a hard time in the 4th quarter (0-of-7), until the last 5 seconds of regulation: first he hit a couple of free throws to tie the game, then he stripped the ball from Ray Allen at midcourt and finished with a dunk that gave Miami a 101-99 lead with just .6 seconds to go. He added 5 points in OT but that wasn’t enough to overcome Rondo & Co.

NEW ORLEANS @ OKLAHOMA CITY 97-92

Chris Paul (NOR)
14 pts, 0.38 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 100% FT%
25 z-pts (0.67), 0.45 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

Paul stole the ball and then made a key layup with 11 seconds left to give the Hornets a 95-92 lead.

CHARLOTTE @ NEW YORK 93-97

Danilo Gallinari (NYK)
17 pts, 0.33 2PT%, 0.45 3PT%
23 z-pts (0.62), 0.18 z2PT%, 0.57 z3PT%

Gallinari hit back-to-back treys in a 30-second span down the stretch to give the Knicks a three-point lead with 44 seconds left. His higher z3PT% reflects the clutchness of these shots.

TORONTO @ PHILADELPHIA 108-106

Chris Bosh (TOR)
29 pts, 0.67 2PT%, 0.75 FT%
50 z-pts (1.58), 0.83 z2PT%, 0.83 zFT%

Bosh scored 8 of his 29 points in the 4th, including an And-1 for a two-point lead with 8 seconds left.

Lou Williams (PHI)
23 pts, 0.75 2PT%, 0.60 3PT%, 100% FT%
28 z-pts (0.88), 0.86 z2PT%, 0.29 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

Williams scored 9 points in a 4th quarter in which he missed only one shot. Unfortunately that was a potentially game-winning 3 at the buzzer – that he missed despite getting a decent look (note how his z3PT% goes down as a result).

NEW JERSEY @ NEW ORLEANS 99-103

Chris Paul (NOR)
11 pts, 0.43 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 0.40 FT%
35 z-pts (0.98), 0.81 z2PT%, 0.50 z3PT%, 0.81 zFT%

Paul’s And-1 with 7 seconds left gave the Hornets a two-point lead and eventually the game. “Whoever was on me, I just knew I was going to try to drive, get contact and either get a good shot up or try to draw a foul,” Paul said. “Pretty much put your head down and try to get to the rim.”

Courtney Lee (NJN)
28 pts, 0.43 2PT%, 0.71 3PT%, 100% FT%
37 z-pts (1.04), 0.43 z2PT%, 0.70 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

Courtney Lee was clutch from the free throw line down the stretch. We can see that because most of his z-points come from free throws (.64 out of 1.04, which is much higher than the % of his real points that came from FTs: 7 out of 28). Lee scored 5 points from the line in the last 23 seconds, the last two to give the Nets the lead with 11 seconds left.

UTAH @ MEMPHIS 89-91

O.J. Mayo (MEM)
14 pts, 0.57 2PT%, 0.25 3PT%, 0.75 FT%
33 z-pts (1.00), 0.83 z2PT%, 0.18 z3PT%, 0.57 zFT%

Mayo hit the game-winning jumper with 5 seconds left in the game. “The play was for O.J. to make whatever play it was, whether he got the shot, got to the basket or passed it,” Memphis coach Hollins said. “He made a big shot himself.”

Ronnie Brewer (UTA)
10 pts, 0.56 2PT%
17 z-pts (0.53), 0.63 z2PT%

Ronnie Brewer’s dunk tied the game with 23 seconds remaining.

CHICAGO @ MILWAUKEE 93-96

Michael Redd (MIL)
24 pts, 0.54 2PT%, 0.40 3PT%, 0.75 FT%
32 z-pts (0.89), 0.62 z2PT%, 0.37 z3PT%, 0.70 zFT%

Redd scored 14 of his 24 points in the 4th quarter, including a jumper for a five-point lead with 1:07 to go.

MIAMI @ PHOENIX 109-105

Jermaine O’Neal (MIA)
13 pts, 0.40 2PT%, 0.83 FT%
28 z-pts (0.84), 0.59 z2PT%, 0.90 zFT%

The veteran Heat forward scored the go-ahead basket with 29 seconds left, then hit a couple of free throws to seal the game.

MEMPHIS @ CHARLOTTE 87-89

Gerald Wallace (CHA)
18 pts, 0.61 2PT%, 0.67 FT%
32 z-pts (0.99), 0.80 z2PT%, 0.50 zFT%

His tip shot at the buzzer gave the Bobcats the W against the Grizzlies.

DENVER @ SACRAMENTO 100-102

Tyreke Evans (SAC)
27 pts, 0.69 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 0.75 FT%
46 z-pts (1.63), 0.85 z2PT%, 0.60 z3PT%, 0.91 zFT%

Another game winner for Evans. The rookie, who had 10 points in the 4th quarter, hit a jumper with 11 seconds remaining to put the Kings ahead. “Coach [Paul Westphal] gave me the opportunity and that’s what I wanted to do, I wanted to be the guy with the ball in my hands,” said Evans. “I had worked on that move a lot. I stopped in the lane, pump faked, and was fading away. I had a good look at the basket. I thought it was going in.”

NBA Photos

Sunday Beat is a weekly post featuring the most remarkable performances of the week, z-points-wise.

NEW ORLEANS @ MIAMI 101-102

Udonis Haslem (MIA)
14 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.67 FT%
32 z-pts (0.88), 0.72 z2PT%, 0.67 zFT%

Haslem’s two last jumpers were money: the first one to tie the game at 100, the second one to win it for the Heat.

BOSTON @ NEW YORK 107-105

Kevin Garnett (BOS)
10 pts, 0.27 2PT%, 100% FT%
32 z-pts (1.07), 0.59 z2PT%, 100% zFT%

It’s not like Garnett had a great game against the Knicks. I mean… until he beat them at the buzzer. But isn’t that just what great players do, deliver in crunch time?

David Lee (NYK)
22 pts, 0.58 2PT%, 0.89 FT%
30 z-pts (1.00), 0.73 z2PT%, 0.78 zFT%

Lee tied the game at 105 with just 9 seconds left in overtime. Note also how Larry Hughes gets credit for the clutch assist (4 assists vs. 5.89 z-assists).

OKLAHOMA CITY @ L.A. LAKERS 85-101

D.J. White (OKL)
12 pts, 0.86 2PT%
0.89 z-pts (0.01), 0.99 z2PT%

D.J. White got his numbers in the 4th and end of the 3rd quarter. By then the game was already a blow out, and that’s why he only gets 0.89 z-points to show for his 12 points.

PHILADELPHIA @ WASHINGTON 107-108

Lou Williams (PHI)
26 pts, 0.54 2PT%, 0.67 3PT%, 100% FT%
38 z-pts (0.99), 0.32 z2PT%, 0.72 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

Williams scored 7 of his 26 points in the last 2:15 of the game but that wouldn’t be enough to win this game.

Gilbert Arenas (WAS)
17 pts, 0.54 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 0.625 FT%
23 z-pts (0.61), 0.57 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 0.75 zFT%

Agent Zero put the Wizards ahead 107-108 with 52 seconds left, and that would end up being the final score.

GOLDEN STATE @ DALLAS 111-103

Stephen Curry (GSW)
18 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 100% FT%
29 z-pts (0.78), 0.58 z2PT%, 0.70 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

“The first quarter, I was thinking too much,” Curry said after the game. “But the coaches kept telling me to shoot the ball and I made a few.” The rookie scored 11 of his 18 points in the final 4 minutes of the game.

MILWAUKEE @ NEW ORLEANS 99-102

Darren Collison (NOR)
18 pts, 0.36 2PT%, 100% 3PT%, 0.87 FT%
35 z-pts (1.32), 0.47 z2PT%, 100% z3PT%, 0.74 zFT%

Another rookie delivering in the clutch. Collison scored 5 points in the last 14 seconds of regulation, including a shot beyond the arc to send the game to overtime. Collison sank 3 of the 4 clutch free throws that he had in the extra period to help the Hornets get the W. “Darren has been to Final Fours,” teammate David West said. “When it comes to competition and pressure situations, it doesn’t get any tougher than that. We knew he could come in and handle it. We expected this from him.”

Brandon Jennings (MIL)
14 pts, 0.25 2PT%, 0.33 3PT%, 0.83 FT%
25 z-pts (0.97), 0.45 z2PT%, 0.15 z3PT%, 0.96 zFT%

Not a very effective game by Jennings in terms of shooting percentage, but he managed to score a few clutch free throws at the end of regulation and also made a layup to tie the game in OT with 27 seconds left.

NEW YORK @ DENVER 125-128

J.R. Smith (DEN)
17 pts, 0.40 2PT%, 0.67 3PT%, 0.50 FT%
26 z-pts (0.68), 0.43 z2PT%, 0.73 z3PT%, 0.50 zFT%

J.R. Smith was hot in the 4th quarter, scoring 11 points in 3 minutes including three shots from beyond the arc.

NBA Photos

Sunday Beat is a weekly post featuring the most remarkable performances of the week, z-point-wise.

DALLAS @ DETROIT 95-90

Dirk Nowitzki (DAL)
25 pts, 0.44 2PT%
34 z-pts (0.90), 0.52 z2PT%

After missing his first three field goals of the 4th quarter, Nowitzki went 4-of-6 in the last 6 minutes to help the Mavs win this game.

Will Bynum (DET)
27 pts, 0.71 2PT%, 0.5 3PT%, 100% FT%
32 z-pts (0.85), 0.67 z2PT%, 0.6 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

4th quarter was all Bynum for the Pistons, as he scored 17 of his 27 points in the period- including a bucket to put Detroit within 3 points with 30 seconds remaining.

TORONTO @ PHOENIX 100-101

Hedo Turkoglu (TOR)
20 pts, 0.36 2PT%, 0.44 3PT%
29 z-pts (0.86), 0.31 z2PT%, 0.34 z3PT%

Turkoglu did put up some points in the clutch but he wasn’t very effective overall, as shown by his lower z%. He missed a three with 30 seconds left and the Raptors trailing by one, and later he’d miss a jump shot at the buzzer that could have won it for the Raps.

Steve Nash (PHO)
23 pts, 0.6 2PT%, 0.17 3PT%, 100% FT%
28 z-pts (0.85), 0.63 z2PT%, 0.11 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

An And-1 by Nash put the scoreboard at 100-101 for the Suns, and that be the final score as Turkoglu missed at the buzzer. Nash is playing again with the confidence of a back-to-back MVP.

PORTLAND @ ATLANTA 95-99

Joe Johnson (ATL)
35 pts, 0.42 2PT%, 0.43 3PT%, 100% FT%
55 z-pts (1.73), 0.47 z2PT%, 0.59 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

Great clutch performance by Joe Johnson. The Hawks shooting guard scored 10 points in the 4th period (including 4 points in the last 14 seconds of regulation) and added 8 more in overtime. Note the magnitude of his z-points but also how his z% improves over his normal %, showing that he scored effectively down the stretch.

DALLAS @ MILWAUKEE 115-113

Dirk Nowitzki (DAL)
32 pts, 0.48 2PT%, 0.5 3PT%, 0.87 FT%
49 z-pts (1.67), 0.53 z2PT%, 0.82 z3PT%, 0.93 zFT%

Luck counts in life. Go tell Nowitzki, who scored the winning shot for the Mavs in this fashion. Big, lucky z-points for Dirk.

Brandon Jennings (MIL)
25 pts, 0.31 2PT%, 0.44 3PT%, 0.62 FT%
34 z-pts (1.16), 0.54 z2PT%, 0.18 z3PT%, 0.63 zFT%

Jennings scored 13 points in the 4th quarter, including a jumper to put the Bucks ahead with 45 seconds left in regulation. However, he missed a three-pointer at the buzzer of the 4th with the game tied, and another couple of three’s in overtime (one of them with 3 seconds left and the game tied again). Just look at how terrible his z3PT% is!

CHARLOTTE @ PHILADELPHIA 84-86

Lou Williams (PHI)
19 pts, 0.60 2PT%, 0.33 3PT%, 0.80 FT%
39 z-pts (1.19), 0.76 z2PT%, 0.35 z3PT%, 0.92 zFT%

Lou Williams scored two clutch free throws and the winning layup in the final minute of the game.

SAN ANTONIO @ DALLAS 94-99

Dirk Nowitzki (DAL)
41 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 100% 3PT%, 0.83 FT%
51 z-pts (1.81), 0.61 z2PT%, 100% z3PT%, 0.85 zFT%

This must be Super-Clutch week for Nowitzki. Third appearance on our weekly Sunday Beat for the German, who had another great performance. Dirk scored to put the Mavs ahead with 14 seconds left in regulation, but Tim Duncan would score later to send the game to OT. It would be there where we would see the best from Nowitzki, as he scored 11 points in the extra period to make sure that the Mavericks escaped with the win.

Tim Duncan (SAS)
22 pts, 0.36 2PT%, 0.75 FT%
28 z-pts (0.99), 0.37 z2PT%, 0.87 zFT%

Duncan scored a couple of clutch free throws and hit the game-tying shot at the end of the 4th, but went scoreless in the overtime.

UTAH @ SAN ANTONIO 90-83

Carlos Boozer (UTA)
18 pts, 0.39 2PT%, 100% FT%
30 z-pts (0.86), 0.55 z2PT%, 100% zFT%

5 points from Boozer in the final 1:39 (And-1 included) were key to seal the game for the Jazz.

HOUSTON @ ATLANTA 103-105

Josh Smith (ATL)
9 pts, 0.43 2PT%, 0.50 FT%
27 z-pts (0.78), 0.82 z2PT%, 0.49 zFT%

Game winner tip shot by Josh Smith as the Hawks beat the Rockets 103-105. See how z-points work: Smith had 6 points out of his total 9 points from 2-point range. That’s 66% of his points. But because he hit a clutch 2-pointer, Josh Smith gets credit for it by having 91% of his total z-points (0.71 out of 0.78) come from 2-point shots.

Carl Landry (HOU)
18 pts, 0.43 2PT%, 100% FT%
24 z-pts (0.72), 0.41 z2PT%, 100% zFT%

Two clutch free throws by Landry tied the game at 103 with 5 seconds left.

SACRAMENTO @ HOUSTON 106-113

Carl Landry (HOU)
20 pts, 0.75 2PT%, 100% FT%
26 z-pts (0.68), 0.79 z2PT%, 100% zFT%

Landry was key once again for the Rockets, scoring 13 of his 20 points in the 4th quarter.

DETROIT @ UTAH 97-100

Andrei Kirilenko (UTA)
22 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.25 3PT%, 0.78 FT%
37 z-pts (1.32), 0.52 z2PT%, 0.48 z3PT%, 0.89 zFT%

Kirilenko scored 9 of his 22 points in the 4th quarter and added 6 more in overtime. He hit a key three-pointer at the end of regulation (see how that improves his z3PT%) and sank two free throws in the waning moments of overtime to lift the Jazz over the Pistons.

Carlos Boozer (UTA)
22 pts, 0.54 2PT%, 100% FT%
28 z-pts (0.99), 0.71 z2PT%, 100% zFT%

Nice game from Boozer, who scored 18 points in the 4th quarter and overtime.

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