The second-highest scoring game in NBA history belongs to Bam Adebayo.
Eighty-three points.
One performance that will live forever.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Inside 83: How Bam put his name between Wilt and Kobe with one of the greatest scoring nights ever
Wild West Wins: Lakers, Spurs, Rockets capitalize as busy West race reshuffles
East Streaks & Heat: Hawks win 7th straight, Pistons rebound, Payne & Buzelis pop off
Roundup: Rising Suns one game out from 6th, Hornets & Kings pull off late wins
Tonight On ESPN: Clicking Magic test mettle against Cavs, Rockets & Nuggets duel in key clash
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Wednesday brings six matchups, highlighted by an ESPN doubleheader as the Cavs visit the Magic (7:30 ET), before the Nuggets host the Rockets (10 ET).
Bam Breaks The Internet: Adebayo’s 83-point masterpiece has the hoops world buzzing. See what some of the game’s biggest stars were saying on social in real time:
LeBron James: BAM BAM BAM 💥🔥🔥🔥
Dwyane Wade: 83 for CAP 🫡 🤯
Donovan Mitchell: YEAHHH @Bam1of1 ‼️‼️‼️
Jalen Brunson: Bro what
Dirk Nowitzki: 83?????
Vince Carter: That was dope watching @Bam1of1 shoot his way into history…. Congrats young fella….🔥🔥🔥
1. BAM ADEBAYO MAKES HISTORY: 83 POINTS, ONE ALL-TIME ERUPTION
Wilt. Bam. Kobe.
On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game. It’s a record that’s stood untouched ever since – the pinnacle of single-game scoring.
For decades, only one player came remotely close to Wilt’s mark: Kobe Bryant, whose 81-point eruption in 2006 stood alone as the modern benchmark.
For 20 years, those two performances lived in a world of their own.
Until last night, when Bam Adebayo etched his name between the two legends.
Heat 150, Wizards 129: Adebayo dropped 31 in the 1st quarter. By halftime, he had 43 – topping his previous single-game career-high (41).
He wasn’t close to done, netting 19 in the 3rd for a franchise-best 62. And with 81 in reach, Bam’s bucket barrage reached record heights, finishing with 83 points (20-43 FG, 36-43 FT, 7 3s) for the 2nd-highest scoring game in NBA history – and Miami’s sixth straight win. | Recap
“This was an absolutely surreal night,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. “We’ve been a part of a lot of big moments in this arena …
“This one – it just happened. Moments happen. I’m grateful we were able to be a part of it and witness it.”
The explosion started immediately.
Bam scored the game’s first basket 17 seconds in, then drilled a 3 to make it 5-0. Neither shot touched the rim, as the 3-time All-Star was about to touch a whole new dimension.
Opening Eruption: Adebayo drilled four more 3s in the opening frame to finish with 31 – the 2nd-highest-scoring 1st quarter since play-by-play data was first tracked in 1997-98
Career Night: After an early 2nd-quarter breather, he turned up before the half, closing with 12 points in 7 minutes, capped by a late and-one for a new career-best
Miami led 76-62 at the break. Adebayo had 43, and his outburst was about to become unforgettable.
Relentless Charge: Bam opened the second half with a dunk. Then he buried a 3, followed by 7 points in 54 seconds. Suddenly, he had 55
Record Heat: Five free throws later, he was at 60 – steal, outlet, tomahawk. Make that 62, surpassing LeBron James’ single-game franchise record (61)
It was a career night for Bam. It was a record night for Miami. It was a season-high for the league. And we were only through three quarters.
Still Climbing: Adebayo opened the 4th with two free throws and a triple. A minute later, he converted another and-one
With 9:05 Left, He Had 70: And the chase had shifted to something entirely different
“In the entire 4th quarter, I felt like a fan,” said Spoelstra. “Once it just kept on going, we knew we possibly could be part of something really special.”
Special, indeed.
With Miami in the bonus, Adebayo couldn’t be contained. Face guards weren’t enough off-ball. Double-teams weren’t enough on-ball. And the paint became his playground.
Eyeing 80: After powering his way to four more free throws, Adebayo muscled into position for an entry pass inside: Catch, bucket and the foul. He had 77 with 3:26 left
It was real. Only Wilt and Kobe had ever climbed this high – and Bryant’s record was within reach.
Chasing Kobe: Bam cashed two more free throws to hit 79. Now, Washington was triple-teaming him end-to-end. It didn’t matter. He fought his way for the next inbound, drove up the floor and earned another trip to the line
Tying Kobe: Shot, splash, 80. Shot, splash, 81
Bam Adebayo stood alongside Kobe Bryant in the single-game scoring record books. And he wasn’t done.
With 1:19 left, Miami used a quick outlet off a Washington bucket to get the ball back to Adebayo. The arena was on its feet. Phones were out. And Bam was headed straight to the rack.
The Wizards had no choice but to foul the 6-foot-9 wrecking ball barreling through the lane. The whistle blew, and Adebayo headed back to the line for history.
With the entire basketball world watching, Adebayo stepped to the stripe with 82 and 83 waiting on the other side.
He drilled the first to pass Kobe
He drilled the second to cement Bam
Eighty-three points, the second-most in a single NBA game.
Curtain Call: With “M-V-P!” chants raining down and a new number between 81 and 100, Spoelstra called a timeout.
Bam’s night was finished – but his performance was everlasting.
“You will remember this game for the rest of your lives,” Heat play-by-play announcer Eric Reid told the audience
For Adebayo, it already felt timeless.
“I wish I could relive it twice,” he said. “This is a special moment. It’s Wilt, me, then Kobe, which sounds crazy.”
2. BIG WEST WINS: LAKERS, SPURS & ROCKETS WIN AMID WILD PLAYOFF PUSH
With LeBron James (hip/foot) missing a second straight game, it was up to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to move the Lakers up the standings against Anthony Edwards’ Wolves.
Lakers 120, Wolves 106: Luka (11 reb, 11 ast) recorded his 54th career 30+ point triple-double, putting up a matching 31-point scoring effort with Reaves (7 reb, 8 ast), as L.A. overcame a 16-point 1st quarter and never trailed after halftime to sweep Minnesota 3-0 this season. | Recap
Two-Man Game: After Joker passed him just last night, Luka’s 54th 30+ point triple-double pulls him back even for the 2nd-most all-time
Edwards and Julius Randle scored 14 apiece for the Wolves, who drop from 3rd to 5th place with the Rockets’ win and the Lakers’ tiebreaker
After an emotional return weekend, Jayson Tatum led the surging C’s into Texas. But it was Victor Wembanyama’s squad that picked up its fifth straight win.
Spurs 125, Celtics 116: Wemby (39 pts, 11 reb) was one point off matching his season-high, pouring in 24 2nd-half points and sinking a career-high eight 3s to push San Antonio past Derrick White (34 pts, 7 ast), Tatum (24 pts) and Boston. | Recap
Alien Territory: Wemby became the second youngest player in NBA history to collect 35+ pts, 10+ reb and 8+ 3s in a game, behind only Jason Kidd
After no double-digit 1st-half leads and a tie at halftime, San Antonio took over the 2nd half, never trailing by more than a bucket in just three lead changes
Houston flexed its balance of scoring depth and defense to put itself back in 3rd place.
Rockets 113, Raptors 99: Kevin Durant scored 22 of his 29 points in the 1st half, while Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. added 23 apiece to help Houston stay ahead the entire 2nd half, shooting past RJ Barrett (25 pts, 6 reb) and Toronto. | Recap
“We can go to the moon,” KD said postgame of Houston’s potential. “When we got three guys scoring over 20 points and guarding up that way, it’s tough to stop us.”
3. IN THE EAST: HAWKS WIN AGAIN, PISTONS REBOUND, PAYNE & BUZELIS SHINE
Atlanta is ensuring its name stays in the Playoff conversation, extending its season-best win streak to seven games.
Hawks 124, Mavericks 112: Following Dallas’ 2-0 opening lead, it was all Atlanta, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker (29 pts, 5 3s) and Jalen Johnson (27 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast) leading all five Hawks starters in double figures over Klay Thompson (21 pts, 5 3s) and the Mavs. | Recap
A Milestone: Johnson totaled his 23rd game of 25/5/5 this season, the most ever by a Hawks player in a single season, passing Cliff Hagan (1961-62)
East-leading Detroit turned to its All-Star duo to get its first win since March 1.
Pistons 138, Nets 100: Jalen Duren’s 26 points in 3 quarters led the way, fed by six of Cade Cunningham’s (21 pts) 15 assists as Detroit never trailed, handling Michael Porter Jr. (19 pts) and Brooklyn to snap a season-long four-game losing streak. | Recap
With news breaking before tip that Tyrese Maxey would be out at least three weeks (finger), Philly gave a total team response.
Sixers 139, Grizzlies 129: Cam Payne (career-high 32 pts, 10 ast) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (30 pts, 12 reb) led six Sixers in double figures, as Philly exploded for a 41-point 4th quarter to turn the tables on Ty Jerome (26 pts, 8 ast) and Memphis. | Recap
Philly’s Finish: Down 14 in the 2nd half and as many as eight in the 4th, Philly went on a 25-5 run in the final frame to earn the win and snap its two-game slide
Payne Perfect: Payne scored 13 in the 4th and set a career-high in 3s as he went 8-for-8 from deep
Bulls 130, Warriors 124 (OT): Matas Buzelis went off for a career-high 41 points on 16-of-28 shooting and 5 3s, capped by a clutch lead-extending triple with 2:20 left in OT to lift Chicago over Kristaps Porziņģis (17 pts) and Golden State, which remains without Steph Curry (knee). | Recap
Buzelis Balling: Buzelis scored 17 in the 4th quarter and OT. In Year 2, he’s nearly doubled his scoring from his rookie season (8.6 ppg), averaging 15.8 ppg
Chipping In: Josh Giddey added a monster triple-double (21 pts, 13 reb, 15 ast), while Jalen Smith hit the game-tying free throws with 1 second left to force OT
4. ROUNDUP: SUNS STAY HOT, HORNETS & KINGS WIN LATE
Suns 129, Bucks 114: Devin Booker (27 pts, 7 ast) and Jalen Green (25 pts, 5 ast) combined for 52, while Royce O’Neale hit seven 3s for 21 more as the Suns pulled past Giannis Antetokounmpo (22 pts, 9 reb) and the Bucks. | Recap
Suns Rising: Phoenix is 5-1 in its last six, moving just one game back of 6th-place Denver for the final Playoff spot
Hornets 103, Blazers 101: Down as many as 19, LaMelo Ball’s (14 pts) triple early in the 4th gave Charlotte its first lead since the 1st quarter. Less than a minute later, they grabbed the lead for good.
Brandon Miller (23 pts, 9 reb) led the way past Deni Avdija (22 pts, 7 ast in return) and the Blazers, as the Hornets got their seventh win in their last nine games. | Recap
Kings 114, Pacers 109: Devin Carter dropped 22 of his career-high 24 points in the 4th, including 13 straight, to rally the Kings from a 20-point 2nd-half deficit, edging Aaron Nesmith (29 pts) and the Pacers for a second straight win. | Recap
5. TONIGHT ON ESPN: CAVS AT MAGIC, ROCKETS AT NUGGETS
Orlando had lost six of its last eight as the All-Star break neared, dropping it from 5th to 8th in the East.
Then, something clicked. The Magic won three of their next four entering All-Star Weekend. Since returning from the break, they’ve won seven of their last 10 – including four straight.
Tonight (7:30 ET, ESPN), sitting a game back of 5th, Orlando hosts 4th-place Cleveland in a pivotal East duel.
His Kingdom: Averaging 22.2 ppg on the season, Paolo Banchero has turned up post-All-Star break, tallying 26.2 ppg on 50.8% shooting
Standing Tall: Orlando also boasts an NBA-best 105.6 DefRtg since Feb. 5
The Test: Cleveland has had recent success when facing Orlando. The Cavs have won 10 of the two sides’ last 13 regular-season meetings and eliminated the Magic in the first round of the 2024 Playoffs.
X-Factor: In their two matchups this season, Donovan Mitchell has been dominant, delivering 40.5 ppg while shooting 43.8% from 3
The Harden Effect: With James Harden in the lineup, the Cavs are 8-2, moving a half-game back of the Knicks for 3rd in the East
The postseason sprint remains neck-and-neck in the West. Both the Rockets and the Nuggets are in the thick of it, and go toe-to-toe later tonight (10 ET, ESPN).
Aaron Gordon returned to action Friday following a 17-game absence. That represents a major upgrade for Denver, writes The Athletic’s Sam Amick:
For all of Nikola Jokić’s greatness and Jamal Murray’s splendor, history tells us that this group can’t typically reach true title-contending status unless Aaron Gordon is on the floor. | Read more
Three more games tip off on League Pass, including another marquee West duel as the 5th-place Wolves visit the 8th-place – and climbing – Clippers (10:30 ET).
Raptors at Pelicans (8 ET)
Knicks at Jazz (9 ET)
Hornets at Kings (10 ET)
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