Top Clutch Performances of the Week
It's been an exhilarating week in sports, to say the least, and clutch performances have taken center stage.
Across the globe, we've seen historic comebacks, riveting pitching performances, Stanley Cup go-ahead goals and a leadoff hitter change the position all within seven days of one another.
Diving deeper into what actually went down, here are the top clutch performances of the last seven days.
Klay Thompson Saves the Golden State Warriors' Season
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Who: Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson
When: May 28, Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals
Klay Thompson deserves all the credit in the world for saving the Golden State Warriors' 2015-16 season.
The Warriors were on their last leg when Thompson caught fire from beyond the three-point line in Game 6. By the time the game was over, the less-heralded half of the Splash Brothers had drained 11 three-pointers, scored 41 total points and secured a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, 108 to 101.
As we know now, the Warriors would take control of Game 7, thrusting themselves back into the NBA Finals. Without Thompson, none of that would have been possible.
Matt Harvey's Memorial Day Gem
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Who: New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey
When: May 30 vs. Chicago White Sox
Matt Harvey is a guy accustomed to criticism. The New York Mets ace has been bashed in the press this season—Kevin Kernan's New York Post article touched on some of his issues.
But Harvey put his haters on notice this past Memorial Day, silencing the Chicago White Sox bats. According to the box score, Harvey tossed seven shutout innings, surrendering two hits and striking out six in the win.
To call Harvey's showing clutch would be an understatement. This is the type of performance that will hopefully turn Harvey's season around and help the Mets keep pace with the first-place Washington Nationals.
Ivory Latta Hits a Game-Clinching Bucket
3 of 9Who: Washington Mystics guard Ivory Latta
When: May 27 vs. Seattle Storm
Ivory Latta, of Washington Mystics fame, stepped back and ripped a long-range three-point shot with time rapidly ticking away. Her clutch bucket led the Mystics to an 84-82 overtime victory against the Seattle Storm.
"Latta has become among the most productive reserves in the WNBA, leading the Mystics in scoring last season after [Mystics coach Mike] Thibault made the switch to Natasha Cloud as the starting point guard," Gene Wang at the Washington Post said.
Clearly, her worth was on full display during this early-season WNBA showdown.
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Joel Ward Pushes the San Jose Sharks into the Stanley Cup Finals
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Who: San Jose Sharks winger Joel Ward
When: May 25, Game 6 of the Conference Finals
Finally getting the San Jose Sharks over the hump and into the Stanley Cup Finals has been a collective effort. But one player who has continuously stepped up is Joel Ward.
Ward's impeccable run with the Sharks was summed up perfectly in Game 6 of the Conference Finals. As the team looked to break down the St. Louis Blues, Ward netted two early goals—the latter one proving to be the game-winner.
His performance was not only clutch, it was spellbinding. It doesn't matter if the Sharks lift Lord Stanley's Cup this year or not. Ward will be remembered as an indispensable component of this roster either way.
Mookie Betts Blasts Three Home Runs
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Who: Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts
When: May 31 vs. Baltimore Orioles
The power of Mookie Betts was on full display against the Baltimore Orioles on May 31. Betts, batting in the leadoff slot, blasted three home runs in a 6-2 Red Sox victory.
The 23-year-old outfielder has been on a torrid pace thus far. His 12 home runs, .283 average and 40 RBI are MVP-worthy totals.
His three-home run, five-RBI performance against the Orioles was simply a continuation of his clutch hitting—clutch hitting that's helped drive the Red Sox to the top of the American League East.
Nick Bonino Leads the Pittsburgh Penguins to a Game 1 Victory
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Who: Pittsburgh Penguins winger Nick Bonino
When: May 30, Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals
Anytime you put your team on the fast track to a victory, especially in the Stanley Cup Finals, you have automatically turned in a clutch performance.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals saw Pittsburgh Penguins winger Nick Bonino snipe the go-ahead goal at the 17:27 mark of the third period in a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks.
That goal gave the Penguins a 1-0 series lead, bringing their visions of another Stanley Cup much closer to reality.
Andy Murray Turns It Around at the French Open
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Who: Andy Murray
When: June 1, French Open vs. Richard Gasquet
Andy Murray faced a daunting challenge against Richard Gasquet at the 2016 French Open. Surrounded by the rich clay courts at Roland Garros, Murray rallied back from a 7-5 deficit in the opening set to win three straight sets of his own.
Despite the fact he punched a ticket to the semifinals, this one didn't come easy. Murray fought tooth-and-nail, winning the second set 7-6, before closing out Gasquet.
A grueling clutch performance by the 29-year-old was just enough to put him within striking distance of the French Open final.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League-Winning Penalty Kick
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Who: Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo
When: May 28, UEFA Champions League Final
Real Madrid winning the UEFA Champions League came down to the right foot of the club's biggest star, Cristiano Ronaldo.
There were concerns about Ronaldo's health leading up to the game, according to James Gray of the Daily Express, but any and all doubt was washed away by Ronaldo's clutch finish.
Real tied with La Liga rival Atletico Madrid through full and extra time, but Ronaldo took advantage of Atletico's miss and buried the clinching kick in the penalty shootout without breaking a sweat.
The cool, calm demeanor of Ronaldo broke through and sent Real Madrid to its second Champions League title in the last three years.
Golden State Warriors Win the Western Conference Finals After Being Down 3-1
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Who: Golden State Warriors
When: May 30 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Klay Thompson's performance in Game 6 put the Golden State Warriors in a prime position to return to the NBA Finals. In Game 7, Stephen Curry helped turn that dream into a reality, dropping 36 points on 13-of-24 shooting.
Curry set the tone that led to a 96-88 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. After being down 3-1 in the series, the Warriors showed once again why they won 73 games during the regular season.
This is a team fueled by winning, no matter how difficult things get.
All stats and information via Sports-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.
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