Who Are the Best Closers in the NBA This Season?
Fourth-Quarter Scoring
According to NBA.com, here are the top five fourth-quarter scorers through roughly 30 to 35 games this season.
| Player | Mins | Pts | FG% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Westbrook | 8.0 | 9.9 | 45.0% | 79.0% |
| Isaiah Thomas | 7.4 | 9.3 | 47.7% | 88.8% |
| Kyle Lowry | 10.1 | 7.9 | 46.5% | 85.5% |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 7.7 | 7.6 | 47.9% | 76.2% |
| Damian Lillard | 7.7 | 7.6 | 43.6% | 90.6% |
If you've followed the NBA at all this season, you know that Russell Westbrook is all about volume. So it follows that he leads this group with 3.3 field goals on a league-leading 7.3 field goal attempts in eight minutes per final frame. As a result, his field goal percentage is just 45% and he's averaging 1.3 turnovers per game, but he also adds 2.1 assists in the fourth quarter. He has led his Oklahoma City Thunder to an 18-12 record when appearing in the fourth.
Of the group, Isaiah Thomas averages the fewest minutes, yet he's been super-effective by scoring nearly as many points per game as Westbrook on just five shots. He's done so by converting 3.7 of 4.2 free throw attempts, which has helped he and the Boston Celtics to a 19-11 record.
In stark contrast, Kyle Lowry has averaged the most minutes per fourth quarter in this group and has dished 1.6 assists to go with his 7.9 points per game. He's also managed 1.1 threes per fourth quarter -- the highest of the five. The Toronto Raptors are 23-11 in the 34 games in which their starting point guard has appeared in the final quarter.
The difference between the top three and the other two on the list is more evident in the win-loss column than anywhere else. DeMarcus Cousins and Damian Lillard have combined for a losing record of 26-35 when they play the fourth. So, despite their efforts, their teams haven't been able to seal the deal.
