Bam Adebayo delivered a truly breathtaking performance on March 10, as NBA fans flicked over channels and streams to watch the Miami Heat’s big man chase the record for the best-scoring game in history…. And he wasn’t too far away!
The Miami Heat star erupted for an unbelievable 83-point game against the Washington Wizards, smashing franchise records and placing himself firmly in the league record books by the time it was over. He took his team towards a 150:129 win over their opponents, with the Heat sitting in 6th place in the Eastern Conference standings following an impressive run of seven consecutive victories.
Article continues after ad
Bam is now the second-highest scorer in a single NBA game, overtaking Kobe Bryant and beaten only by Wilt Chamberlain – a record set back in 1962.
Bam Adebayo joins Top 5 NBA scorers of all time (in a single game)
100 Points – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors vs. NY Knicks, 3/2/1962)
83 points – Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat vs. Washington Warriors, 3/12/2026)
81 Points – Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers vs. Toronto Raptors, 1/22/2006)
78 Points – Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia Warriors vs. LA Lakers, 12/8/1961)
73 Points – Wilt Chamberlain (San Francisco Warriors vs. NY Knicks, 11/16/1962)
With Tyler Herro, Miami’s key three-point shooter, ruled out through injury, 28-year-old captain Bam stepped into the scoring role without hesitation versus the Wizards.
Article continues after ad
From the opening tip, Adebayo came flying out of the blocks. The Heat big man, known mainly for his defensive exploits, became the center of the offense, attacking Washington repeatedly in the paint and knocking down mid-range shots. He poured in a stunning 31 points the first quarter, the most points ever scored by a Miami Heat player in a single opening period, beating LeBron James and Dwayne Wade.
Article continues after ad
Enjoy watching Bam Adebayo set the record for the most points scored in a quarter by a Heat player.
31 points in just 11 minutes.pic.twitter.com/UZmZEtKXl3
— The HEAT Realm (@WadexFlash) March 11, 2026
The dominant stretch saw Adebayo actually score more points than the entire Wizards team in the first quarter. A career-high points total of Wade was also later eclipsed. Reports and social media fan accounts from across the league tuned in to watch it unfold, reporting the long line of records being overtaken with every successful shot.
56 points. Bam has surpassed Dwyane Wade's career high of 55.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) March 11, 2026
Bam Adebayo is up to an NBA season-high 57.
Jokic had 56 on Christmas.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) March 11, 2026
By halftime, the buzz around the arena and online had already reached another level.
Adebayo kept piling on points through the second half as Miami rode his incredible scoring night to a comfortable lead, with Washington unable to slow him down.
Article continues after ad
Article continues after ad
He got to 67 points with 10 minutes to play and continued his dominance from there. The whole crowd and his teammates recognized something special was happening in front of their eyes, and guess what, he got the ball even more from there on!
With a minute and a half to go, Bam hit 82 points with a free throw and became the 2nd highest scorer in a single game, overtaking Kobe Bryant. The crowd roared “MVP! MVP! MVP!” as he sunk another for 83.
Article continues after ad
Going over to the bench, he couldn’t help but grab a massive hug from coach Erik Spoelstra. 83 points in 42 minutes.
The points he finished with are now the most scored by any player in a single NBA game this season, beating Nikola Jokic’s 56-point performance on Christmas Day. The night also saw Adebayo eclipse another historic Heat benchmark, as LeBron James’ famous 61-point game in a Miami uniform had previously stood as the franchise’s most iconic scoring display.
Article continues after ad
Article continues after ad
Adebayo finished the night with 83 points, 9 rebounds, and three assists, capping off a historic performance that will be remembered as one of the most dominant scoring games in Heat history.
“You will remember this game for the rest of your lives,” as the commentator Eric Reid said on the night.
But for now, Wilt Chamberlain will hold on to the NBA record for most points in a single game with 100 on March 2, 1962.