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

NEW ORLEANS @ ORLANDO 117-123

Vince Carter (ORL)
48 pts, 0.76 2PT%, 0.60 3PT%, 100% FT%
64 z-pts (1.58), 0.82 z2PT%, 0.61 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

It was vintage Carter against the Hornets, as he scored 34 second-half points (18 pts in the 4th) to help Orlando come back from 17 behind and beat New Orleans handily.

WASHINGTON @ CHARLOTTE 92-94

Raymond Felton (CHA)
11 pts, 0.57 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 100% FT%
26 z-pts (0.83), 0.78 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

Even when he’s playing hurt (recovering from a twisted right ankle), Felton shows tremendous poise and effectiveness in clutch situations. This time he hit a fade away jumper over Washington’s Randy Foye to give the Bobcats the lead with 1.9 seconds left. “I wasn’t even thinking about my ankle at the time. I was just thinking about trying to win the game, whatever it took,” Felton said. Raymond Felton is one of the league’s leaders in z-points per point (4th if we don’t consider outlier Sundiata Gaines).

Ronald Murray (CHA)
16 pts, 0.75 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 0.67 FT%
21 z-pts (0.66), 0.77 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 0.58 zFT%

Murray sank a clutch free throw to tie the game with 21 seconds remaining, but he missed his first one (giving him a lower zFT%).  Wizard Antawn Jamison missed a shot to tie the game at the buzzer, which explains his .19 z2PT% vs his .35 2PT%.

SACRAMENTO @ NEW YORK 118-114

Kevin Martin (SAC)
17 pts, 0.54 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 0.50 FT%
26 z-pts (0.73), 0.51 z2PT%, 0.40 z3PT%, 0.78 zFT%

The overtime belonged to Kevin Martin, who scored the first nine points of the extra period for the Kings. Overall, he went 3-of-5 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line in the extra period.

Tyreke Evans (SAC)
27 pts, 0.44 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 0.71 FT%
33 z-pts (0.92), 0.43 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 0.80 zFT%

With his team trailing by 8, Evans led the Kings rally in the 4th quarter, scoring 10 points in the last 3:14 of regulation.

Jason Thompson (SAC)
12 pts, 0.62 2PT%, 100% FT%
18 z-pts (0.51), 0.74 z2PT%, 100% zFT%

His dunk with 25 seconds left in regulation tied the game, capping the comeback initiated by Evans and sending the game to OT, where Kevin Martin took over right from the start.

OKLAHOMA CITY @ PORTLAND 89-77

James Harden (OKL)
13 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.40 3PT%, 0.75 FT%
19 z-pts (0.42), 0.61 z2PT%, 0.49 z3PT%, 0.75 zFT%

Strong 4th quarter for Harden, who scored all of his 13 points in the period.

PHILADELPHIA @ TORONTO 93-104

Jose Calderon (TOR)
10 pts, 0.60 2PT%, 0.33 3PT%, 100% FT%
21 z-pts (0.44), 0.78 z2PT%, 0.74 z3PT%, 100% zFT%

A huge 4-point play by the Spanish point guard broke the tie with 2 minutes left. The Raptors took off from there to win the game.

BOSTON @ NEW ORLEANS 85-93

Darren Collison (NOR)
25 pts, 0.64 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 0.80 FT%
30 z-pts (0.69), 0.71 z2PT%, 0.59 z3PT%, 0.73 zFT%

Collison scored 11 points in the 4th quarter and kept coming back at the Celtics every time they tried to spark a rally.

CHARLOTTE @ MINNESOTA 93-92

Nazr Mohammed (CHA)
21 pts, 0.64 2PT%, 0.75 FT%
42 z-pts (1.12), 0.69 z2PT%, 0.75 zFT%

Mohammed has been clutch lately. His dunk with 5 seconds remaining lifted the Bobcats over the Timberwolves.

L.A. CLIPPERS @ GOLDEN STATE 102-132

Craig Smith (LAC)
14 pts, 100% 2PT%, 0.75 FT%
2 z-pts (0.02), 100% z2PT%, 0.49 zFT%

The Warriors literally rolled over the Clippers in this game. Smith got 14 points in garbage time, getting only 2 z-points as a result.

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

L.A. LAKERS @ BOSTON 90-89

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.

ORLANDO @ DETROIT 91-86

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.

PHOENIX @ HOUSTON 115-111

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.

PHOENIX @ NEW ORLEANS 109-100

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.

L.A. LAKERS @ MEMPHIS 93-95

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.

SACRAMENTO @ DENVER 109-112

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).

DETROIT @ NEW JERSEY 97-93

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.

CHARLOTTE @ L.A. LAKERS 97-99

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.

SAN ANTONIO @ PORTLAND 93-96

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.

WASHINGTON @ ORLANDO 92-91

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).

MINNESOTA @ DALLAS 117-108

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.

NEW JERSEY @ DETROIT 92-99

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.

MEMPHIS @ MINNESOTA 102-109

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.

PHILADELPHIA @ HOUSTON 102-95

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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