Heat’s Adebayo scored 83 points, second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s single-game NBA record

Wilt, then Bam.

Bam Adebayo had the night of all time on Tuesday, with a point total second only to Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA record books. Adebayo scored 83 points, setting the league mark for free throws made and attempted in the Miami Heat’s 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards.

“It’s a strange night,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Obviously we’ve been blessed to be a part of a lot of great moments in this arena. This one just happened. Moments happen and I’m thankful that we were all able to be a part of it and witness it.”

Chamberlain’s record of 100 points has stood since 1962. Kobe Bryant – one of Adebayo’s basketball heroes – was number 2 on the list with 81 against the Toronto Raptors in 2006. Adebayo never thought he would be at that club.

And there came a night he would never forget.

“Wilt, me, then Kobe,” said Adebayo. “It sounds crazy.”

Adebayo’s final numbers: 20 of 43 from the field, 36 of 43 from the foul line, 7 of 22 from 3-point range.

He was in tears as he hugged his mother, Marilyn Blount, before walking off the floor after the game. Emotions were under control, until then.

“For me, it was to stay calm, stay locked in and understand that I can go for something special,” Adebayo said. “I didn’t think it would be 83. But to have this moment is surreal, because like I said, man, to be able to do it at home, in front of my mother, in front of my people, in front of the home fans, this is a mark in history that will always be remembered.”

Adebayo’s career high, before Monday, was 41 years old.

That was over at halftime.

“I looked at the stat sheet. It was crazy: 40 shots, 40 free throws, 20 3s, that takes a lot of toughness, man,” said Houston star and Adebayo’s USA Basketball teammate Kevin Durant. “It takes a lot of energy to go out there and put those shots up and do it, make history, pass Kobe as the second-highest scorer in the history of the game. I mean, mah. Congrats to him. Big, big accomplishment, something we’ll talk about forever.”

Adebayo started with 31 points in the first quarter and never stopped rolling. He was up 43 at halftime, 62 at the end of the third quarter. Then came the fourth, when the points kept falling despite facing doubles, triples- and what appeared to be a quadruple team from the Wizards defense that kept sending him to the foul line.

“BAM BAM BAM,” former Heat forward LeBron James wrote on social media. James had the Heat’s single-game scoring record of 61 points, set on March 3, 2014. He is now No. 2 on the team’s list — by a wide margin.

The NBA’s season high was 56, by Denver’s Nikola Jokic against Minnesota on Christmas night. The last player to score 62 points in three quarters was Bryant, who had the most in the fourth quarter for the Los Angeles Lakers against Dallas on Dec. 20, 2005.

Adebayo got to the line 16 times in the fourth, and the game had some funny moments. The Heat have made it clear that they always want Adebayo to get the ball and get to the line, no matter what. The Wizards tried to foul others – but couldn’t stop the scoring attack.

“You have to give him credit,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. “In the first half he shot a really bad ball, he put the ball in really well. Obviously, he came out and had a little third down, too. Obviously they kept him in the game, and there were a lot of fouls called – 16 free throws in the fourth quarter. I was trying to get the ball out of his hands, he still got some free throws from 40 calls that I can’t explain all the calls. I have to say that.”

And Adebayo only needed the first half to set a career high, too.

Adebayo’s 31 points in the first quarter broke the Heat’s record for points in any quarter – and tied the team record for points in the first half before the second quarter began.

43 points at halftime

He finished the first half with 43 points, a team record for any division and two points better than his previous career high — in a full game, that is — to set Jan. 23, 2021, against Brooklyn.

Adebayo’s season high entering Tuesday was 32. He matched that with a free throw with 5:53 left in the second half, breaking the Heat’s first scoring record.

He was just getting started.

“I would say if he gets to 50, then we think, OK, maybe he can get to 60,” Spoelstra said.

He reached 60, late in the third.

“And when he got to 60, it just kept going,” Spoelstra said. “We might go 70.”

He reached 70.

“And then, I didn’t even dare to think about taking him out at that time,” Spoelstra said. “We just kept going.”

When Spoelstra finally announced that Adebayo’s night was over, he was waiting to greet the center with a big hug. Teammates did the same, as did the other Wizards after the final buzzer. Adebayo walked over to Heat general manager Micky Arison to congratulate him, before finally entering the locker room.

Everyone wanted his jersey, which he kept. The game ball was secured. These nets were cut as a souvenir. A’ja Wilson, Adebayo’s longtime girlfriend and four-time WNBA MVP, couldn’t help but cry.

“I know he says I’m his inspiration,” Wilson said. “But I don’t think he has any idea how much he inspires me to continue to be the person that I am.”

Finally, Adebayo went to the parking garage, tired. He never had the chance to meet Bryant, who died in 2020, and often wonders what it would be like to have him as a confidant. He had those same thoughts Tuesday, after Bryant’s 81st pass.

“Just for a moment,” said Adebayo, “to be with someone I idolized growing up.”