How the Thunder's 'Big Three' Have Led OKC to Victory in Clutch Situations
With the game on the line, Oklahoma City's three best players have been exceptional this season.
For such a young team, the Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the most resilient squads in the NBA.
With 16 double-digit comeback victories this season, OKC has proven that they are rarely out of contention, even when trailing in the fourth quarter.
One of the leading catalysts for the Thunder's incredible ability to persevere even when falling behind is the clutch-time performances of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
Through the first 74 games of 2023-24, the aforementioned "big three" are all putting up incredible shooting splits in crucial moments. Williams, who has been one of the top fourth-quarter players in the NBA this year, is shooting 68.9% from inside the arc and 58.3% from 3-point range in clutch situations.
In Oklahoma City's most recent contest against the New York Knicks, Williams went 4-of-4 from the field in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 points to help lead the Thunder to a one-point victory at Madison Square Garden.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder player with the highest usage rate, also has remarkable shooting splits in crunch time. The All-NBA guard has connected on 63.8% of his 2-point shots during clutch situations so far this season, including a game-winner against the Knicks on Sunday night.
Gilgeous-Alexander is also shooting 88.2% from the free throw line and 35.7% from beyond the arc in clutch situations.
Holmgren rounds out the trio, shooting 46.7% from 3-point range in clutch moments. The rookie big man is also shooting 59.1% in the clutch from within the arc this season.
Clutch time is defined by the NBA as "the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score is within five points."
With the Thunder's three best players all being extremely efficient in these moments, it is easy to see why OKC has already reached 52 wins this year and is currently the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
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