The Miami Heat player’s historic night placed him second only to Wilt Chamberlain, who famously scored 100 points in 1962.
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Published March 11, 2026
Bam Adebayo scored 83 points, the second-highest single-game point total in NBA history, as the host Miami Heat defeated the Washington Wizards 150-129 on Tuesday night.
The 28-year-old center scored 31 points in the first quarter, passing Kobe Bryant (81 points in 2006) for second place in a single game. Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point record is the first since March 2, 1962.
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Adebayo set the Heat’s records for most scoring games and most scoring quarters. The previous club’s most points per game was 61 points, set by LeBron James in 2014. Adebayo’s previous career best was 41 points against the Brooklyn Nets on January 23, 2021.
Adebayo made 20 of 43 shots from the floor, 7 of 22 from 3-point range and 36 of 43 from the free throw line in 42 minutes Tuesday. He also grabbed nine rebounds.
Abebayo set the NBA single-game record for most free throws made and free throws attempted. Chamberlain and Adrian Dantley previously held the record for foul shots with 28 each. Dwight Howard holds the old mark of 39 attempts, which he reached twice.
The Heat have won six straight games, tying their longest winning streak of the season. They improved to 22 wins and 11 losses at home.
Miami needed Adebayo’s heroics because they were without three of their four leading scorers with injuries: Tyler Herro (quadriceps), Norman Powell (groin) and Andrew Wiggins (toe). The Heat were also without Kelel Weah (shoulder) and Nikola Jovic (back).
Washington has now lost nine straight games and is five games away from its longest loss of the season. Alex Sarr led the Wizards with 28 points.
Wizards star Trae Young was sidelined for treatment for an injury related to his right knee.
Adebayo went 10-of-16 on field goal attempts, 5-of-8 on 3-point attempts and 6-of-7 on free throw attempts in a blistering first quarter.
Miami led 40-29 after the first quarter, and increased their advantage to 19 points in the second quarter. However, the Wizards closed out the game relatively well, leading 76-62 at halftime.
Adebayo scored 43 points in the first half, another Heat record. He was 13-of-24 shooting overall in the first half, 5-of-11 from beyond the arc and 12-of-14 from the free-throw line.
His shooting overshadowed Sarr, who had 23 points at halftime.
Adebayo scored 19 points in the third, giving Miami a 113-97 lead by the end of the quarter. He dunked with 22.2 seconds left in the third, scoring 62 points and breaking James’ record.
In the fourth quarter, with victory seemingly assured, Miami kept Adebayo in the game, giving him the ball on every possession and chasing records. The final two points went beyond Bryant, coming from the foul line with 1:16 left.
