Bam Adebayo etched his name into NBA history with a record-breaking performance, scoring an astonishing 83 points in a 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards on March 10. The 28-year-old center surpassed Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game from 2006, placing him second behind Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point game in 1962.

Adebayo’s historic night

Adebayo’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary. He shot 20-for-43 from the field, 7-for-22 from three-point range, and an incredible 36-for-43 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed nine rebounds and helped Miami secure its sixth consecutive victory.

“Man, I wish I could relive it twice,” Adebayo said after the game. “I credit my family, my teammates, this crowd… And they kept feeding me the ball… I couldn’t do it without my teammates. I appreciate coach (Erik Spoelstra) for drawing up plays for me, and I got it going tonight.”

Adebayo’s 83 points shattered the Miami Heat’s team record for most points in a single game, previously held by LeBron James at 61. He also set a new team record for the most points scored in a quarter, tallying 31 in the first quarter alone. His previous career high was 41 points, set on January 23, 2021.

Records and milestones

Adebayo’s performance was marked by several NBA records. He made 36 free throws, setting a new single-game record, and attempted 43 free throws, also a record. Previously, Dwight Howard held the record for most free throws attempted in a game with 39, which he achieved twice.

Additionally, Adebayo became the first player in the NBA’s play-by-play era to score 40 points in both halves of a game. He scored 43 points in the first half and 40 in the second, a feat only previously accomplished by Wilt Chamberlain in his 100-point game.

“This was an absolutely surreal night,” said Coach Erik Spoelstra. “Once he got to 50, then we’re thinking, ‘All right, maybe he can get to 60.’ And when he got to 60, it just kept on going. We might as well go for 70 and then I didn’t dare even think about taking him out at that point.”

Adebayo’s first quarter was particularly dominant, as he scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting, including 5-for-8 from three-point range and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. His performance was instrumental in Miami’s 40-29 lead after the first quarter.

Impact on the game

Miami’s victory was made even more impressive by the absence of three of its top scorers due to injuries: Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, and Andrew Wiggins. The Heat also missed Kel’el Ware and Nikola Jovic, but Adebayo’s performance filled the void.

The Wizards, meanwhile, continued their losing streak, dropping to nine consecutive losses. Alex Sarr led Washington with 28 points, but the team was without star Trae Young, who sat out due to injury management on his right knee.

“It’s Wilt, me, then Kobe, which sounds crazy,” Adebayo said after the game, referencing the three players who have scored the most points in a single NBA game.

Adebayo’s performance has not only cemented his place in the annals of NBA history but has also elevated his personal career. His scoring average increased from 18.9 to 20.0 points per game, a significant jump in a single night.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, a star for the Milwaukee Bucks, praised Adebayo’s effort. “It speaks volumes for his hard work,” he said. “I know Bam. He works his butt off every single day. He never cheats the game. Seeing a guy like him doing something like this is incredible.”