NBA: Heat's Bam Adebayo pours in 83, NBA's second-highest total ever

Bam Adebayo produced the second-highest single-game scoring total in NBA history, pouring in 83 points as the host Miami Heat defeated the Washington Wizards 150-129 on Tuesday night.

The 28-year-old center scored 31 points in the first quarter, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81-point effort in 2006 to claim second place on the NBA’s all-time single-game scoring list. Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point performance in 1962 remains the record.

“Man, I wish I could relive it twice,” Adebayo said after the game. “I credit my family, my teammates, this crowd… They kept feeding me the ball. I couldn’t do it without them. I appreciate coach Erik Spoelstra for drawing up plays, and I got it going tonight. To be able to do it at home makes it even sweeter.”

Adebayo set Heat records for the highest-scoring game and the highest-scoring quarter. The previous club record was 61 points, set by LeBron James in 2014. Adebayo’s career high before Tuesday was 41 points, achieved on Jan. 23, 2021, against the Brooklyn Nets.

In 42 minutes of play, Adebayo shot 20-for-43 from the floor, 7-for-22 from three-point range, and 36-for-43 at the free-throw line. He also grabbed nine rebounds.

“Once he got to 50, we were thinking, maybe he can get to 60,” Spoelstra said. “When he got to 60, it just kept going. I wanted him to have this moment in front of the home fans… I didn’t stop until he surpassed Kobe’s record.”

Adebayo also set NBA single-game records for most free throws made and most free-throw attempts. Chamberlain and Adrian Dantley previously held the record for most made free throws with 28, while Dwight Howard’s mark for attempts was 39.

Miami earned its sixth straight win, matching its longest streak of the season, and improved to 22-11 at home. Adebayo’s performance was especially crucial as the Heat were missing three of their top four scorers due to injuries: Tyler Herro (quadriceps), Norman Powell (groin), and Andrew Wiggins (toe), as well as Kel’el Ware (shoulder) and Nikola Jovic (back).

Washington has lost nine straight games, five short of its longest skid of the season. Alex Sarr led the Wizards with 28 points, while Trae Young sat out for right knee management.

Adebayo’s first-quarter explosion saw him shoot 10-for-16 from the field, 5-for-8 from three, and 6-of-7 on free throws, giving Miami a 40-29 lead. The Heat extended the advantage to 19 points in the second quarter, though Washington closed slightly, trailing 76-62 at halftime. Adebayo had 43 points in the first half, another team record, overshadowing Sarr’s 23 points.

In the third quarter, Adebayo added 19 points, pushing Miami ahead 113-97. He capped the quarter with a dunk that gave him 62 points, breaking James’ record. In the fourth, with victory secured, Miami kept feeding him the ball as he chased records. His final points came from the free-throw line with 1:16 remaining, surpassing Bryant’s mark.

“It’s Wilt, me, then Kobe, which sounds crazy,” Adebayo said. Spoelstra called it “an absolutely surreal night.”

-Field Level Media/Reuters