Bam Adebayo records 83 points, marking the second-highest total in NBA history
Bam Adebayo achieved the highest point total since Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point game in 1962, scoring 83 points in the Miami Heat’s 150-129 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
Adebayo recorded 20 of 43 shooting from the field, 7 of 22 from beyond the arc, and 36 of 43 from the charity stripe. He also contributed nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks in just under 42 minutes of play.
His free throw makes and attempts established new NBA records for a single game. The previous record for attempts was 39, held by Dwight Howard, who reached that number on two separate occasions. The record for free throws made in a game was 28, set by Wilt Chamberlain and Adrian Dantley.
Before Tuesday night, Adebayo had been averaging only 4.8 free throw attempts per game.
Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance had stood for two decades as the highest score in a game since Chamberlain’s feat on March 3, 1962. The last player to come close to Bryant’s total was Luka Doncic of the Mavericks, who scored 73 on January 26, 2024.
Adebayo began the game strongly, netting 31 points in the first quarter. He reached 43 by halftime and 62 by the conclusion of the third quarter.
LeBron James previously held the Heat’s single-game scoring record with his 61-point game against Charlotte on March 3, 2014. Nikola Jokic of Denver had the highest scoring game in the NBA this season with 56 points.
Adebayo surpassed both of these marks in the third quarter and continued to add to his total. His prior career high was 41 points.
