Loading
Games decided by 3 points or fewer — where clutch performance separates winners from losers.
15
Close Games
2
1-Point Games
4
Went to OT
| # | Winner | Loser | Score | Diff | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Celtics | Milwaukee Bucks | 112-111 | +1 | Mar 10, 2026 | Tatum buzzer-beating mid-range |
| 2 | Dallas Mavericks | Phoenix Suns | 118-117 | +1 | Feb 28, 2026 | Doncic step-back three in OT |
| 3 | Cleveland Cavaliers | New York Knicks | 105-103 | +2 | Jan 18, 2026 | Mitchell clutch free throws |
| 4 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Denver Nuggets | 110-108 | +2 | Mar 5, 2026 | SGA game-winning floater |
| 5 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Memphis Grizzlies | 107-105 | +2 | Jan 30, 2026 | Edwards defensive stop seals it |
| 6 | Milwaukee Bucks | Philadelphia 76ers | 113-111 | +2 | Nov 15, 2025 | Giannis block and score |
| 7 | New York Knicks | Boston Celtics | 99-97 | +2 | Feb 1, 2026 | Brunson mid-range masterclass |
| 8 | Golden State Warriors | Sacramento Kings | 111-109 | +2 | Jan 8, 2026 | Curry 40-footer at buzzer |
| 9 | Philadelphia 76ers | Miami Heat | 108-106 | +2 | Feb 20, 2026 | Embiid dominant fourth quarter |
| 10 | Los Angeles Lakers | Golden State Warriors | 121-119 | +2 | Dec 25, 2025 | Christmas Day classic |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | Atlanta Hawks | 126-124 | +2 | Mar 12, 2026 | Haliburton to Siakam alley-oop |
| 12 | Sacramento Kings | Los Angeles Lakers | 119-117 | +2 | Mar 3, 2026 | Fox coast-to-coast in OT |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | Los Angeles Clippers | 115-112 | +3 | Feb 14, 2026 | Durant 37-point Valentine's Day |
| 14 | Denver Nuggets | Dallas Mavericks | 117-114 | +3 | Dec 5, 2025 | Jokic triple-double in crunch time |
| 15 | Atlanta Hawks | Charlotte Hornets | 104-101 | +3 | Nov 28, 2025 | Young clutch three-pointer |
| # | Team | W | L | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| 2 | Indiana Pacers | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| 3 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| 4 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| 5 | Boston Celtics | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 6 | New York Knicks | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 7 | Milwaukee Bucks | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 8 | Philadelphia 76ers | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 9 | Atlanta Hawks | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 10 | Denver Nuggets | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 11 | Dallas Mavericks | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 12 | Phoenix Suns | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 13 | Los Angeles Lakers | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 14 | Sacramento Kings | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 15 | Golden State Warriors | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| 16 | Miami Heat | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| 17 | Charlotte Hornets | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| 18 | Los Angeles Clippers | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| 19 | Memphis Grizzlies | 0 | 1 | 0% |
Download close-game data for analysis.
Close games are where championships are forged. The ability to execute under pressure, make clutch free throws, and get defensive stops in the final minutes separates contenders from pretenders. In the 2025-26 season, several teams have established themselves as elite closers.
Research shows that close-game records tend to regress toward .500 over time, meaning a team that wins 80% of games decided by 3 points or fewer likely has some luck involved. However, having a go-to floor general and clutch shooters does provide a real edge.
Historically, about 20-25% of NBA games are decided by 3 points or fewer. This translates to roughly 250-310 games per season out of 1,230 regular-season contests.
Not particularly. Close-game records are heavily influenced by randomness. Teams with unsustainably high or low close-game win rates typically regress toward .500 in subsequent seasons.
Players with proven track records of hitting big shots, making free throws under pressure, and getting defensive stops in crunch time. Visit our clutch stats page for detailed rankings.