BAM! ADEBAYO MAKES HISTORY

It's Wilt, then Bam.

Bam Adebayo had a night for all time on Tuesday, with a point total second to only Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA record books. Adebayo scored 83 points, setting league marks for free throws made and attempted in a game for the Miami Heat in its 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards.

"An absolutely surreal night,"Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said."Obviously, we've been blessed to have been part of a lot of big moments in this arena. This one, it just happened.

"Moments happen and I'm grateful that we're all able to be a part of it and witness it."

Chamberlain once scored 100 points, a record that has stood since 1962. Kobe Bryant — one of Adebayo's basketball heroes — was No 2 on the list with 81.

Adebayo never thought he'd be in that club. And then came a night he'll never forget.

"Wilt, me, then Kobe," Adebayo said. "It sounds crazy."

Adebayo's final numbers: 20 of 43 from the field, 36 of 43 from the foul line, 7 for 22 from 3-point range. It was a stat line unlike any other in NBA history.

He was in tears as he hugged his mother, Marilyn Blount, before leaving the floor after the game.

Emotions were kept in check, until then.

"For me, it was just remaining calm, remaining locked in and understanding that I can go for something special," Adebayo said. "I didn't think it was going to be 83, but to have this moment is surreal, because, like I said, man, to be able to do it at home, in front of my mom, in front of my people, in front of the home fans — this is a mark in history that will forever be remembered."

Adebayo's career high, before Monday, was 41.

That was passed by halftime.

Adebayo started with a 31-point first quarter and never stopped rolling. He was up to 43 at halftime, 62 by the end of the third quarter.

And then came the fourth, when the milestones kept falling despite facing double-, triple — and what, at one point, appeared to be a quadruple-team from a Wizards defense that kept sending him to the foul line.

"BAM BAM BAM," former Heat forward LeBron James posted on social media.

James had the Heat single-game record of 61 points, set on March 3,2014. He's now No 2 on the team list — by a wide margin.

The NBA's previous best this season was 56, by Nikola Jokic for Denver against Minnesota on Christmas night. The last player to have 62 points through three quarters was Bryant, who had exactly that many going into the fourth for the Los Angeles Lakers against Dallas on Dec 20, 2005.

Adebayo got to the line 16 times in the fourth, and the game had some comical moments. The Heat made clear they kept wanting Adebayo to get the ball and get to the line, even in a blowout. The Wizards tried to foul others — but couldn't stop the scoring onslaught.

"You've got to give him credit,"Wizards coach Brian Keefe said.

"In the first half he shot the ball terrific, he scored the ball really well. Obviously, he came out and had a little bit in the third, too.

"They obviously kept him in the game, and there was a lot of fouls called — 16 free throws in the fourth quarter. I was trying to take the ball out of his hands, he still got some free throws 40 feet from the rim. I can't explain some of those calls. That's all I got to say on that."

And Adebayo only needed the first half to set a career high, too.

Adebayo scored 31 points in the opening quarter, breaking the Heat record for points in any quarter — and tied the team record for points in a first half before the second quarter even started.

He finished the first half with 43 points, a team record for any half and two points better than his previous career high — for a full game, that is — of 41, set on Jan 23, 2021, against Brooklyn.

Adebayo's season high entering Tuesday was 32. He matched that with a free throw with 5:53 left in the second quarter, breaking the Heat first-half scoring record.

'Surreal night'

Spoelstra described Adebayo's virtuoso display as "just an absolutely surreal night".

Spoelstra said Miami had sought to stick to its game plan during Adebayo's 43-point first half, but gradually pivoted toward helping him chase a historic total.

"At halftime we talked about continuing to play our game," Spoelstra said.

"In the second half, I was a little bit more intentional in trying to get him some touches.

"I would say once he got to 50, then we're thinking, alright, let's maybe get to 60. Then when he got to 60, just keep going. Might as well go for 70.

"I didn't even dare think about taking him out of the game at that point. We just kept going.

"I wanted him to have a moment with the crowd, to really enjoy this historic night in front of all the fans.

"So I didn't stop until he got to Kobe's (record)."

While the 28-year-old Adebayo is best known as one of the NBA's most versatile defensive players, rather than a prolific scorer, Spoelstra said Tuesday's fireworks were attributable to his work ethic.

"Look at the company he's with right now — the absolute greats of the game," Spoelstra said.

"It's an absolute credit to his relentless will and work ethic.

"He's willed himself and worked himself into being a premier offensive talent in this league."

Agencies