Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo delivered one of the most remarkable scoring performances in NBA history Tuesday night, pouring in 83 points in a 150–129 victory over the Washington Wizards.
The outburst ranks as the second-highest single-game scoring total in league history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point performance in 1962. Adebayo’s performance also surpassed the previous modern-era milestone set by Kobe Bryant, who scored 81 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2006.
Adebayo’s offensive explosion unfolded across all four quarters as he steadily built toward the historic total. He opened with 31 points in the first quarter, followed by 12 in the second, 19 in the third, and 21 in the final period. The 31-point opening quarter set a new Miami franchise record for points scored in the first quarter of a game.
By halftime, the three-time All-Star had already scored 43 points, another Heat record for a single half. Miami led 76–62 at the break as Adebayo dominated Washington’s defense.
The 28-year-old finished the game shooting 20-for-43 from the field, including 7-of-22 from three-point range. He also made a historic mark at the free-throw line, converting 36 of 43 attempts.
Those 36 made free throws set an NBA record for most free throws made in a single game, breaking the previous mark of 28 shared by Chamberlain and Adrian Dantley.
In addition to his scoring output, Adebayo contributed nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in 42 minutes of action.
The performance vaulted Adebayo near the top of the NBA’s all-time list of highest-scoring games. Chamberlain holds the record with 100 points on March 2, 1962, followed by Adebayo’s 83 and Bryant’s 81. Other notable high-scoring efforts include Chamberlain’s 78-point game in 1961 and several 73-point games by Chamberlain, Luka Dončić and David Thompson.
Adebayo’s scoring spree also rewrote the Miami Heat record book. His 31-point first quarter surpassed a previous team mark set by LeBron James in 2014 when James scored 25 points in a quarter during a game in which he finished with a franchise-record 61 points.
James’ 61-point performance had stood as the highest-scoring game in Heat history until Adebayo’s record-setting night.
Adebayo, who was selected by Miami with the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, has been one of the franchise’s cornerstone players in recent seasons. During the 2025–26 campaign, he has averaged 18.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.
In July 2024, he signed a three-year maximum contract extension with the Heat worth $161.35 million, including a player option for the 2028–29 season.
Source: USA Today