Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo has hade NBA history with a jaw-dropping 83-point masterclass.
Adebayo scored 83 points in Miami’s 150-129 win over Washington on Wednesday (all times AEDT) for the second-most points ever recorded in a game.
The astonishing performance surpassed the 81 points scored by Kobe Bryant for the Los Angeles Lakers against Toronto in 2006, and is second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s iconic 100-point haul against the New York Knicks in 1962.
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Adebayo shot 20-of-43 from the field and 36-of-43 from the free throw line with seven threes, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in 42 minutes.
The 43 free throw attempts and 36 makes both set all-time records.
It topped his previous career-high 41 points and Miami’s previous franchise high 61.
Adebayo said post-match it was “for sure” the number one moment of his career.
Adebayo had served a notice a special performance could be on the cards with an electric first quarter, where he poured in 31 points from 10-of-16 shooting.
By half-time he had reached 43 points and he kept the pedal down after the interval with 19 points in the third quarter to take his tally to 62.
At that point it became a question of whether Adebayo could threaten Bryant’s 20-year-old tally of 81 points.
Adebayo duly eclipsed that record late in the fourth quarter. Two free throws saw him draw level with Bryant’s total, and two more took him to 83 with just over a minute remaining.
That was the cue for Adebayo to be subbed out, leaving the court to a standing ovation from a disbelieving home crowd at Miami’s Kaseya Center and warm embrace with coach Erik Spoelstra.
“Man I wish I could relive it twice,” Adebayo said afterwards, saying his individual masterpiece would not have been possible without the support of family, fans and his teammates.
“I couldn’t do it without them. Somebody had to pass me the ball. I appreciate coach for drawing up plays for me and I got it going tonight.”
Adebayo, who was drowned with water from teammates, admitted he had sensed a historic performance was beckoning after his first-half display, ranking it as the highpoint of his career.
“This is number one, for sure,” he said.
GIDDEY GOES BANANAS
Meanwhile in San Francisco, Josh Giddey has 21 points, 17 assists and 13 rebounds in a massive performance to help Chicago over the line against Golden State.
The Aussie’s triple double came in a 130-124 overtime win, while Matas Buzelis scored 41 points.
The Bulls have now won three of their last five games, after going winless through 11 games in February (US time).