Kevin Durant has long been one of the league’s best closers, but he’s taken it to a new level recently.<\/p>\n
Since the All-Star break, Durant has arguably been the NBA’s best closer by volume in the clutch. In his age-37 season, he leads the league in clutch field goal percentage over that stretch. He’s maintained his elite efficiency despite playing in 14 clutch games, tied for the league lead.<\/p>\n
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Clutch efficiency<\/p>\n
Since the All-Star break, Durant has a clutch field goal percentage of 62.5%, which leads the league by a wide margin. No other player even has more than 60%, with Denver’s Jamal Murray in second with a clutch field goal percentage of 56%.<\/p>\n
Durant has scored on opposing defenses at all three levels, shooting 57.1% from deep while scoring 4.3 points per clutch game. While he hasn’t been as effective from the free-throw line, converting just 76.2% of his attempts there, the 19-year vet has helped keep Houston’s offense afloat in the clutch despite regularly seeing double and even triple-teams.<\/p>\n
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Heading into the playoffs, defenses could ramp up the pressure on Durant and Houston’s otherwise pedestrian clutch offense to further try to force the ball out of his hands. That predictability could pose an issue for the Rockets if they encounter a clutch situation in the playoffs, but Durant has proved as of late that he’s adapted.<\/p>\n
Houston only has a 7-7 record in their 14 clutch games since the All-Star break, but with Durant still closing games at an elite level down the stretch, it’s hard to count the Rockets out in those situations.<\/p>\n