Bam Adebayo scored 83 points, the second-highest scoring effort in NBA history, to carry the Miami Heat to a 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
Adebayo had 31 points in the first quarter, 43 by halftime and 62 by the end of the third. He finished 20-for-43 from the field, 36-for-43 from the foul line and 7-for-22 from three-point range.
Adebayo’s free-throw makes and attempts both set NBA records. The previous record for attempts was 39 by Dwight Howard, achieved twice. The record for free throws made in a game was 28, set by Wilt Chamberlain and Adrian Dantley.
Chamberlain made his 28 free throws on the night he scored 100 points in 1962 – the only game better than Adebayo’s in NBA history. Adebayo passed his basketball idol, Kobe Bryant, for the second-highest scoring game ever; Bryant’s career best was 81.
LeBron James held the previous Heat single-game scoring record with 61 points against Charlotte in March 2014. Denver’s Nikola Jokić had the previous NBA season high with 56.
Adebayo passed both marks in the third quarter – and kept going.
Bam Adebayo is second only to Wilt Chamberlain in most points in a single game
Simone Fontecchio scored 18 points for Miami (37-29), which has won six straight and moved a season-best eight games over .500.
The Heat were without Norman Powell (groin), Tyler Herro (quadriceps), Nikola Jović (back) and Andrew Wiggins (toe).
Alex Sarr had 28 points for the Wizards, who were without Trae Young, held out for right knee injury management. Will Riley added 22 and Jaden Hardy scored 17 for Washington, which has lost nine straight.
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