Loading
Which teams thrive when the pressure is on? Clutch ratings, resilience scores, and close-game dominance.
| # | Team | W | L | Win% | Clutch% | Resilience | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ⚡ Oklahoma City Thunder | 57 | 15 | 79.2% | 63.6% | 60.1 | Clutch Elite |
| 2 | 🍀 Boston Celtics | 54 | 18 | 75.0% | 63.6% | 58.4 | Clutch Elite |
| 3 | ⚔️ Cleveland Cavaliers | 52 | 20 | 72.2% | 63.6% | 57.3 | Clutch Elite |
| 4 | 🏙️ New York Knicks | 50 | 22 | 69.4% | 63.6% | 56.2 | Clutch Elite |
| 5 | ⛏️ Denver Nuggets | 50 | 22 | 69.4% | 63.6% | 56.2 | Clutch Elite |
| 6 | 🐺 Minnesota Timberwolves | 49 | 23 | 68.1% | 63.6% | 55.7 | Clutch Elite |
| 7 | 🦌 Milwaukee Bucks | 48 | 24 | 66.7% | 63.6% | 55.1 | Clutch Elite |
| 8 | 🐴 Dallas Mavericks | 47 | 25 | 65.3% | 63.6% | 54.6 | Resilient |
| 9 | 🏎️ Indiana Pacers | 46 | 26 | 63.9% | 63.6% | 51 | Resilient |
| 10 | ✨ Orlando Magic | 45 | 27 | 62.5% | 63.6% | 50.4 | Resilient |
| 11 | ⛵ Los Angeles Clippers | 45 | 27 | 62.5% | 63.6% | 50.4 | Resilient |
| 12 | 🔥 Miami Heat | 44 | 28 | 61.1% | 63.6% | 49.9 | Resilient |
| 13 | ☀️ Phoenix Suns | 44 | 28 | 61.1% | 63.6% | 49.9 | Resilient |
| 14 | 👑 Los Angeles Lakers | 43 | 29 | 59.7% | 63.6% | 49.3 | Resilient |
| 15 | 🦁 Sacramento Kings | 42 | 30 | 58.3% | 59.1% | 47 | Resilient |
| 16 | 🔔 Philadelphia 76ers | 41 | 31 | 56.9% | 59.1% | 46.4 | Resilient |
| 17 | 🦅 New Orleans Pelicans | 40 | 32 | 55.6% | 59.1% | 45.9 | Resilient |
| 18 | 🌉 Golden State Warriors | 39 | 33 | 54.2% | 54.5% | 43.5 | Average |
| 19 | 🦅 Atlanta Hawks | 38 | 34 | 52.8% | 54.5% | 42.9 | Average |
| 20 | 🚀 Houston Rockets | 37 | 35 | 51.4% | 50% | 40.6 | Average |
| 21 | 🐂 Chicago Bulls | 36 | 36 | 50.0% | 50% | 40 | Average |
| 22 | 🐻 Memphis Grizzlies | 35 | 37 | 48.6% | 50% | 39.4 | Average |
| 23 | 🦖 Toronto Raptors | 30 | 42 | 41.7% | 40.9% | 33 | Fragile |
| 24 | 🌉 Brooklyn Nets | 28 | 44 | 38.9% | 36.4% | 30.1 | Fragile |
| 25 | 🎵 Utah Jazz | 28 | 44 | 38.9% | 36.4% | 30.1 | Fragile |
| 26 | 🤠 San Antonio Spurs | 26 | 46 | 36.1% | 31.8% | 27.2 | Fragile |
| 27 | 🐝 Charlotte Hornets | 25 | 47 | 34.7% | 31.8% | 23.6 | Fragile |
| 28 | 🌲 Portland Trail Blazers | 24 | 48 | 33.3% | 27.3% | 21.2 | Fragile |
| 29 | 🔧 Detroit Pistons | 22 | 50 | 30.6% | 22.7% | 18.3 | Fragile |
| 30 | 🧙 Washington Wizards | 20 | 52 | 27.8% | 22.7% | 17.2 | Fragile |
2018-19 | 1st Round | Game 2
Largest playoff comeback at the time
31
PT Deficit
24
PT Deficit
2015-16 | NBA Finals | Series
Overcame 3-1 series deficit to win championship
In the NBA, the ability to win close games separates good teams from great ones. "Clutch" performance — defined as play in the final five minutes of games within five points — reveals a team's mental toughness, late-game execution, and ability to perform under maximum pressure.
Teams that consistently outperform their Pythagorean expected wins (a formula based on points scored vs. points allowed) are typically elite in close-game situations. These teams execute better in crunch time, have reliable closers, and make fewer late-game mistakes.
Our Resilience Score combines clutch win percentage (40%), wins over expected (scaled), and overall winning percentage to create a composite measure of a team's ability to win when it matters most. Championship teams almost always rank highly in these metrics.
Clutch rating is the win percentage in games decided by 5 or fewer points. A rating above 55% indicates a team that closes out tight games effectively.
This compares actual wins to Pythagorean expected wins (based on point differential). A positive number means the team wins more than their point differential would predict, often due to clutch play.
Resilience Score = (Clutch Rating x 0.4) + (Wins Over Expected x 3) + (Win% x 40). This weights close-game performance heavily while accounting for overall team quality.
Not always, but historically championship teams rank in the top 5 in clutch metrics. The ability to close out games is essential in a 7-game playoff series where multiple games come down to the wire.