Bam Adebayo’s 83 points passes Kobe Bryant for 2nd-most in NBA history

Only 10 players in NBA history had ever scored 70 points in a single game. Only Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant had ever scored 80 points in a game. Bam Adebayo broke both barriers on Tuesday night as his Miami Heat blasted the Washington Wizards 150-129 at home in one of the most shocking individual scoring displays in league history.

Adebayo scored 83 points in the Heat win. It’s the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. Miami started fouling on purpose late in the fourth quarter to get the ball back and give Adebayo more field goal attempts. They were even missing free throws on purpose late in the fourth quarter to get Adebayo more chances.

Adebayo’s career-high was 41 points coming into the night. The NBA season-high was 56 points by Nikola Jokic. Against Washington, Adebayo broke his career-high by the end of the first half and the NBA’s season-high before the end of the third quarter. Adebayo scored 31 points in the first quarter, and had 43 points heading into the halftime break. Adebayo scored 19 more points in the third quarter to give him 62 going into the fourth.

Adebayo finished the night with 83 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks, and five turnovers on 20-of-43 shooting from the field, 7-of-22 shooting from three, and 36-of-43 shooting from the free throw line.

Here’s the bucket that gave him 70:

Here’s the bucket that gave him 62 points, which tied him with Kobe Bryant for the most ever through three quarters in modern history:

Here’s the bucket that gave him the NBA’s season-high scoring mark, surpassing Nikola Jokic’s 56 points on Christmas day:

And here’s highlights from Adebayo’s 43-point first half.

Adebayo was only averaging 18.9 points per game coming into the night. He’s always been better known for his defense.

The Wizards are one of the league’s biggest tankers, but this is special even for them.

Bam Adebayo now has the second-most points in NBA history. Think about that. Here’s the list of the highest scoring games in NBA history now.

NBA’s highest-scoring individual games in history

• 100 points: Wilt Chamberlain, March 2, 1962
• 83 points: Bam Adebayo, March 10, 2026
• 81 points: Kobe Bryant, Jan. 22, 2006
• 78 points: Wilt Chamberlain, Dec. 8, 1961 (3 OT)
• 73 points: Luka Doncic, Jan. 26, 2024
• 73 points: Wilt Chamberlain, three times in 1962
• 73 points: David Thompson, April 9, 1978