Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo scores 83 points, sets NBA records
Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo scored 83 points Tuesday night, setting league records for free throws made and attempted in a game. The Heat defeated the Washington Wizards 150-129.
Adebayo’s 83-point performance is the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called it “an absolutely surreal night.”
The 6-foot-9 forward opened with 31 points in the first quarter, finished the half with 43, and reached 62 points after three quarters. Despite facing double-, triple-, and quadruple-team defenses, he continued to score in the fourth quarter, frequently at the foul line. Adebayo finished 20 of 43 from the field and 36 of 43 from the free-throw line, adding 7 of 22 from three-point range.
After the game, Adebayo was seen hugging his mother, Marilyn Blount, in tears. His girlfriend, four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, posted on social media, “Welp won’t have the highest career high in the house anymore, but at least it gives me something to go after.”
The NBA’s previous high this season was 56 points by Nikola Jokic for Denver on Christmas night. Adebayo’s 62 points through three quarters was a feat last achieved by Kobe Bryant on Dec. 20, 2005. Bryant’s career-high was 81 points, the second-highest in NBA history.
Adebayo’s 43 points in the first half broke the Heat record for points in a quarter and tied the team record for points in a half, set before the second quarter even started. His 43-point first half was the second-best in at least 30 seasons, dating back to the 1996-97 season. The season-high before Tuesday was 32 points, matching his previous career high set in 2021.
He also set the franchise record for points in a half, surpassing his own previous mark. The performance marked a historic night in NBA history, with Adebayo surpassing his basketball idols and rewriting team records.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
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