Golden State's Stephen Curry led the league in clutch scoring this season, and now he's got another trophy to add to his collection.
Curry was announced Thursday night as the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year, adding that award to a resume that includes two MVPs, an All-Star Game MVP, an NBA Finals MVP, a Western Conference finals MVP and nine All-NBA selections.
The award is named for Jerry West, someone Curry knows well and someone who once was a consultant for the Warriors.
“When you see him in person you realize how much basketball matters to him, how competitive he is, how much he wants to win no matter what seat he's in,” Curry said of West on the TNT telecast where the award was announced. “And that rubbed off on our organization during that time. ... Any time Jerry West says something, you're going to listen.”
Curry was one of three finalists, along with Chicago's DeMar DeRozan and Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Curry led the league in clutch scoring — defined as points in the last 5 minutes of fourth quarters or in overtime, with the score differential in the game being five points or less — with 189, seven more than DeRozan. Gilgeous-Alexander had 112 points in those “clutch" moments, seventh-most in the league.
The voting was close, with Curry getting 45 first-place votes and finishing with 298 points. DeRozan got 34 first-place votes and had 272 points in the balloting, with players earning five points for a first-place vote, three for second place and one for third place. Gilgeous-Alexander had 160 points.
Curry — a four-time champion — said he's been watching the playoffs, and thinking ahead to what Golden State needs to do before next season. The Warriors were eliminated from postseason consideration by losing in this year's play-in tournament.
“We're not that far off, even having tried to stay at this level and at this peak for so long,” said Curry, who will play for the U.S. at the Paris Olympics this summer. “There's going to be some tweaks, we know. When you lose, you have to look yourself in the mirror and say ‘What can we do to get better, what holes can we fill.’ Thankfully, we have some time to figure that out.”
The award was first handed out last year, when Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox won the inaugural trophy — named for West, the league's original “Mr. Clutch” — with Miami's Jimmy Butler second and DeRozan third. Gilgeous-Alexander was seventh in the clutch voting last year and Curry tied for ninth.
There were 23 players up for the award this year, that list being put together by a balloting of coaches. From there, a panel of 99 reporters and broadcasters who cover the league made the final selection; their ballots were due last week before the start of the play-in tournament. NBA awards take only the regular season into consideration.
Curry was the third player to be announced as an award-winner by the NBA this week, joining Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey (Most Improved) and Minnesota's Naz Reid (Sixth Man). The next award comes Sunday when either Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault, Minnesota’s Chris Finch or Orlando’s Jamahl Mosley will be revealed as Coach of the Year.
The schedule for distributing the other individual awards has yet to be revealed by the league. The ones awaiting scheduling are Rookie of the Year (San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren or Charlotte’s Brandon Miller), Defensive Player of the Year (Wembanyama, Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert or Miami’s Bam Adebayo) and Most Valuable Player (Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Dallas’ Luka Doncic or Gilgeous-Alexander).
Additionally, there are the All-NBA, All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams that will be released as well.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots next to New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5) as Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) watches during the first half in Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Chicago Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan, left, is defended by New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby, center, and guard Miles McBride, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Max Muncy had the first three home run game of his career along with four RBIs, Shohei Ohtani had three hits and became the franchise leader for most home runs by a Japanese-born player and the Los Angeles Dodgers rolled to an 11-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night.
“Tonight was a cool night for me all around,” said Muncy, who had four hits. “We got the series win, which is more important to me than anything. (Tyler) Glasnow was amazing tonight. A lot of quality at-bats up and down the lineup. It was fun to watch.”
Freddie Freeman also had three hits for the Dodgers, who have won four of five. Rookie Andy Pages also went deep as Los Angeles had five homers.
Glasnow (6-1) struck out 10 and became the second pitcher in the majors to reach six wins. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits as he went at least seven innings for the third time this season.
“He continues to pick us up and be that top end guy we expect him to be,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He attacked the zone and was efficient all night. To get through that seventh inning was huge.”
Atlanta's Ronald Acuña Jr. had three hits. Ozzie Albies had a 15-game hitting streak snapped as the Braves lost for the fourth time in five games. Austin Riley and Orlando Arcia had RBIs.
Muncy’s two-run shot in the the second off Bryce Elder (1-1) after Will Smith drew a leadoff walk snapped an 0-for-9 skid at the plate. The third baseman added solo shots in the seventh and eighth innings to become the first Dodgers’ player since Trayce Thompson on April 1, 2023, to have a three-homer game.
“I've hit two plenty of times but when you're up there the last at-bat, the third one is always in your head,” Muncy said.
Ohtani, sixth in the majors with a .345 batting average, led off the third with a drive into the right-center stands to make it 3-0. It was Ohtani’s eighth of the season and surpassed his manager for most homers by a Japanese-born player.
“Relieved,” Ohtani said with a smile about surpassing the mark.
Ohtani's RBI single was part of a four-run fourth and chased Elder, who allowed seven runs on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.
“Probably just location for the most part, he wasn’t getting ahead and too many walks. He wasn’t real sharp,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Elder. “We had been pitching well. Our starters had been going deep. You get into those ruts and it’s a powerful team we’re facing.”
Mookie Betts added a two-run single in the seventh as Albies was unable to snag the bloop hit into right field.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: RHP Pierce Johnson was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to May 1, with right elbow inflammation. RHP Jackson Stephens was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett and LHP Angel Perdomo was transferred to the 60-day IL.
Dodgers: Roberts said RHP Blake Treinen (bruised lung) is on track to be activated on Sunday.
UP NEXT
The series concludes Sunday with a matchup of lefties. Max Fried (2-0, 4.02 ERA) goes for Atlanta while Los Angeles counters with James Paxton (3-0, 3.51 ERA).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy (13) celebrates with Mookie Betts, right, after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, left, does not catch a fly ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 4, 2024. Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson is at right. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy celebrates with Mookie Betts (50) after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) walks with his interpreter, Will Ireton, after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy runs the bases after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Pink, left, greets Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after throwing out the first pitch before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Bryce Elder throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) is greeted by Matt Olson, right, after scoring off of a single hit by Austin Riley during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman, right, is out at second with a tag by Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies during the third inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy (13) celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
