How Clutch Has Julian Champagnie Been?

In Friday's 118-116 narrow win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Champagnie hit 50 percent of his 3-point shots and finished with 19 points. He made two clutch shots from deep to ice the game: one to make it a three-point game with 3:40 left in the fourth quarter, and one with two minutes left for the Spurs to take the lead. Both baskets were assisted by Devin Vassell.

"He's a sniper!" said Vassell after the game. "He's a knock-down shooter. I know every single time I pass him the ball, he almost puts an assist in that column. So huge shout-out to [Champagnie]."

Vassell's five assists matched a season-high, and two of them came in the fourth quarter after Champagnie made his clutch baskets. 

This season, Champagnie is averaging a career-high 12.8 points on 36.3 percent shooting from deep, although he ups his shooting percentage to 37.8 in the fourth quarter.

While he might not be used in closing lineups, he is one of the more clutch players on the roster, and the Spurs seem to know that they can rely on him to hit big-time shots.