For all their issues this season, the 2025-26 Los Angeles Lakers find a way to come through in close contests. On Sunday, they improved to 12-0 in clutch games with a 120-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Lakers, who trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half, cut the deficit to 99-98 with 5:29 left in the fourth quarter. In the final five minutes, they outscored the Grizzlies 20-15 by shooting 5-of-8 from the field, 2-of-5 from three and 8-of-9 from the free throw line, while outrebounding their opponent 8-3.
Led by Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart, they also played excellent defense to hold the Grizzlies to 2-of-7 shooting from three in clutch time to escape with the victory.
Lakers: Best Clutch Team in the NBA
The Purple & Gold’s 100% win rate is the best in the NBA, leading the San Antonio Spurs (13-5), Oklahoma City Thunder (10-4) and Detroit Pistons (16-7) in the stat.
The NBA defines “clutch time” for statistical purposes as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, when the score difference between teams is five points or less. As such, it’s rather impressive that JJ Redick’s team has found a way to eke out wins in all 12 games where they were pushed to the brink by the opponent.
In an alternate universe, the Lakers’ 22-11 record could have easily been 18-15 or worse if they weren’t as good in executing down the stretch of close games. Their intercity rivals, the LA Clippers, for example, own a 2-10 record in clutch games — which would explain why they have a 12-22 record instead of being above .500.
Good Sign for Lakers Playoff Run
Another key stat to note is that the Lakers, despite being 11 games above .500, have a point differential of 0.0 after 33 games. That stat indicates that they haven’t been able to drub opponents like other West powerhouses, and have instead needed to rely on their experience and crunch-time resolve to pull off wins.
A 0.0 point differential may be perceived negatively when compared to the plus/minus of Thunder (+14.4), Rockets (+8.6), Nuggets (+6.1) and Spurs (+5.6) — the Lakers’ four biggest West rivals. On the flipside, the stat bodes well for their chances in the playoffs, where experience and composure in tight moments go a long way.
Luka Doncic, who finished with 36 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in Sunday’s win, praised his team’s character to maintain a 12-0 record in clutch games.
“That’s how you close games out,” Doncic said in his postgame chat with Spectrum SportsNet. “I think we were down four or something in the fourth quarter, and we came back and won by six. That’s what we gotta do — close out games.”
Marcus Smart credited the Lakers’ extensive playoff experience for their clutch record.
“I definitely think it has something to do with it,” Smart said, via LakersNation.
“It’s not the full story, but it definitely helps when guys like LeBron, Luka and myself have been in [those situations]. That’s part of the game. We gotta obviously figure out how to win games that’s not in crunch time and that matters.”
“But it’s good to have those moments because a lot of times, especially down the line, games come down to crunch time. So to win those games is big.”
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