NBA Clutch Stats 2025-26: Who Performs Best in Crunch Time
The NBA defines "clutch time" as the last 5 minutes of a game when the score is within 5 points. These are the moments that separate good players from great ones. Here is who performs best when it matters most.
Most clutch players
Donovan Mitchell — 48.2% FG, 6.8 PPG in clutch: Mitchell is the most efficient clutch scorer in the NBA. His ability to create his own shot in isolation, combined with his fearlessness in big moments, makes him the player you want with the ball when the game is on the line.
SGA — 47.1% FG, 7.2 PPG in clutch: SGA scores the most clutch points per game in the league. His midrange game is nearly unguardable in late-game situations because defenders can't help off shooters. He takes and makes the toughest shots.
Jayson Tatum — 45.8% FG, 6.4 PPG in clutch: Tatum has improved his clutch performance dramatically this season. His step-back three has become a reliable weapon in late-game situations, and his free-throw shooting (91% in clutch) closes out games.
Most clutch teams
The OKC Thunder have the best clutch record in the NBA at 24-8 in games decided by 5 points or fewer. Their defense tightens in crunch time, and SGA's scoring gives them a reliable closer. The Celtics are second at 22-9, and the Cavaliers are third at 21-10.
Is clutch performance real?
This is one of the biggest debates in basketball analytics. Some analysts argue that clutch performance is mostly random — players don't actually perform differently in clutch situations; the sample sizes are just too small to draw conclusions. Others argue that mental toughness, experience, and shot-creation ability genuinely matter more in high-pressure situations.
The truth is probably somewhere in between. Over a single season, clutch stats are noisy and unreliable. But over a career, the best players consistently perform well in clutch situations. Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, and now SGA and Mitchell — the great ones deliver when it matters.