MIAMI — Bam Adebayo delivered the second-highest scoring game in NBA history on Tuesday night, pouring in 83 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 150-129 victory over the Washington Wizards at Kaseya Center.
Adebayo finished 20-for-43 from the field and 36-for-43 at the foul line, eclipsing Kobe Bryant’s 81-point effort in 2006 and trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point record set in 1962. The All-Star center added nine rebounds and one assist as Miami (37-29) picked up its sixth straight win and improved to 22-11 at home.
The Heat took control early, outscoring Washington 40-29 in the opening quarter and never relinquishing the lead. Miami also posted 36 points in the second period, 37 in the third and 37 more in the fourth, holding a margin as large as 28 while leading for 95 percent of the contest.
Rookie forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. supported Adebayo with 18 points and eight assists, and Jaden Hardy chipped in 17. Miami shot 50 percent overall (45-of-90) and went 47-for-59 at the stripe.
Washington (16-48) dropped its ninth consecutive game despite 28 points from rookie center Alex Sarr, who hit 12 of 19 shots. The Wizards connected on 52 percent of their attempts (46-of-89) and 41 percent from deep (15-of-37) but could not match Adebayo’s historic output.
Miami dominated the glass 48-35 and forced 24 Wizards turnovers while committing 17. The victory moved the Heat one-half game ahead of Orlando for first place in the Southeast Division.
The teams meet again March 17 in Minneapolis before wrapping up the four-game season series April 4 in Washington.
Source: ESPN
