Defense has helped the Grizzlies improve in Clutch Time

In recent years, The NBA has provided more context and recognition to the part of the game where some of the best moments and overall performances frequently occur. "Clutch Time", or the part of any game where teams are within five points of each other with five or fewer minutes left to go, is the high-leverage moments NBA players dream of.

And with the introduction of the Clutch Player of the Year award of the past few years, some of the NBA's best players stand out even more for delivering great performances when it matters most.

For the Memphis Grizzlies, the quality of their performance in the clutch has been a good indication of how far their season truly could go once the playoffs arrive. For instance, in the 2021-2022 season, Memphis was among the best clutch teams in the league. That strength played a big role in Memphis beating the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games in the first round of the playoffs and taking the eventual champion Warriors to six games in the second round of that postseason.

In the 2022-2023 season, Memphis was more in the middle of the pack when it came to performance in the clutch. As a result, they struggled in late-game scenarios in their first-round loss to the Lakers.

Performance in the Clutch Has Continued to Improve for Memphis

As the 2024-2025 season began, the Grizzlies' performance in clutch situations was a bit of a concern. Through 12/31/2024, the Grizzlies were 5-7 in the 12 games where they had played in the clutch. Across 38 total minutes of "clutch time" in those 12 games, the Grizzlies were outscored by four points vs their opponents.

A big contributing factor was Memphis allowed 13 three-pointers to opponents while making only five as a team as they went 5-26 from beyond the arc in those 38 minutes of play. The result was a few head-scratching losses against opponents Memphis clearly should have beaten.

As the calendar shifted to 2025, one of the biggest storylines of the season for Memphis was that they would go from playing arguably the easiest schedule in the league to the hardest for the remainder of the season.

The first three weeks in January saw the Grizzlies play other Western Conference playoff hopefuls night in and night out with some struggles and successes. But one area where there was clear improvement for Memphis was in the clutch, as the Grizzlies finally started finding success to close out games.

In the 2025 calendar year, the Grizzlies are 7-4 in clutch games. But over the past six weeks, they are 7-1 and have outscored their opponents by 38 points across 29 minutes of "clutch time" in those eight games. The Grizzlies have continued to struggle shooting the ball from beyond the arc, but a big factor in their improved success has been scoring on two-point shots.

Before 1/10, Memphis made just above 50% (26-51) of its two-point shots. Since 1/10, the Grizzlies have made 65% (22-34) of their two-point shots. The ability to find and convert better shots has allowed Memphis to earn victories late in games.

However, the biggest reason for the Grizzlies' success, as shown above, has been their defense. In the 8-game/29-minute time frame mentioned above, the Grizzlies have held opponents to just 29% shooting from the field, including 6% (1-16) from 3.

Memphis is finding consistent success limiting good looks for their opponents while also causing chaos through defensive playmaking (17 forced turnovers in "clutch time" are tied for first in the NBA over the past six weeks). The lineup of Jaren Jackson Jr, Brandon Clarke, Jaylen Wells, and others has been highly effective in getting stops consistently in high-leverage moments.

Jaren Jackson Jr. has been Captain Clutch for the Grizzlies

Of course, when it comes to the Grizzlies' defense and success, it all starts with Jaren Jackson Jr. For the season, Jackson Jr. is the only NBA player to produce at least five steals and five blocks in clutch moments. He also has the best Defensive Rating in the NBA of any player who has played at least 20 games that contained "clutch time" minutes this season.

While individual Defensive Rating may not be the best measure of a player's impact, when it comes to Jackson Jr.'s impact as a defender it carries a bit more validity. He has especially made his impact felt in the last six weeks when it matters most, which could be a factor in why he is emerging as the favorite in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year race.

One other key stat that has really helped the Grizzlies thrive in the clutch in recent weeks is that their best players are being efficient offensively. Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. have combined to go 19-33 from the field (61.9%) and 17-20 from the free throw line (85%) in the 8-game/29-minute sample of "clutch time" over the past six weeks.

The Grizzlies are also now second in the NBA in Defensive Rating during "clutch time" for the season as a whole. If Memphis can combine efficient offense from its best players with elite defense when it matters most, that could be a big factor in the Grizzlies going a long way in playoffs this year.