Sports

Bam Adebayo Scores 83 Points, Second-Most in NBA History

Was Adebayo's 83-point game a historic achievement or a manufactured disgrace that disrespected basketball's integrity?

Published MAR 11

Story

Above: Bam Adebayo interviewed after his 83-point game on March 10. Image credit: Megan Briggs/Getty Images

The Facts

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo scored 83 points in a 150-129 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, becoming the second-highest scorer in a single NBA game. Only Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point performance in 1962 stands above Adebayo's total.
Al Jazeera
Yahoo Sports
FOX News
Adebayo surpassed Kobe Bryant's 81-point game from Jan. 22, 2006, which had previously held the second spot on the all-time single-game scoring list. Adebayo set NBA records with 36 made free throws and 43 free throw attempts in the contest.
USA Today
The Palm Beach Post
New York Post
The Heat center scored 31 points in the first quarter, breaking the franchise record for points in a quarter previously held by LeBron James. Adebayo finished the first half with 43 points, also a Heat record for points in a half.
Sports Illustrated
The New York Times
NBA
Adebayo shot 20-for-43 from the field and 7-for-22 from 3-point range during the game. His 43 field goal attempts were the most for a player in a non-overtime game since Bryant attempted 50 shots in his final game in 2016.
USA Today
Yahoo Sports
The Wall Street Journal
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra kept Adebayo in the game throughout the fourth quarter despite a comfortable lead. Spoelstra said he was caught up in the moment and did not want to take Adebayo out once the performance became historic.
The New York Times
The Palm Beach Post
Adebayo's previous career high was 41 points, and he entered the game averaging 18.9 points per game this season. The 28-year-old three-time All-Star broke James' Heat franchise record of 61 points, which was set in 2014.
Sports Illustrated
Al Jazeera
FOX News

Sources Split

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CENTER

RIGHT

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CRIT

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

This was a manufactured disgrace that disrespected basketball's integrity. Miami fouled intentionally while up 26 points and missed free throws on purpose just to create extra possessions for stat-padding. The NBA considers late baskets in blowouts disrespectful, yet extending a decided game by dozens of possessions through intentional fouling to manufacture points is somehow acceptable. The league should be embarrassed.

WBR on X

Craig Carton on X

Tyson Beck on X

Narrative B

Adebayo's performance was one of the most incredible games in NBA history and it should be celebrated as such. Every legendary scoring game has happened against weaker teams with some garbage-time padding — Chamberlain's 100 came against a losing Knicks team, and Bryant's 81 featured late-game stat accumulation too. If gaming the system into an 83-point night were possible, someone would've done it already; this was a perfect storm of talent meeting opportunity.