Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat, Lakers
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Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat celebrates with teammates after a 150-129 win against the Washington Wizards at Kaseya Center on March 10, 2026 in Miami, Florida. Adebayo passed Kobe Bryant for the second most points scored in an NBA game with 83.
Seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry has joined the long list of critics who were unimpressed by Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point performance against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
The Lakers legend felt that the Heat and Adebayo did not show “respect” for the game through their blatant stat-padding tactics, including several players purposely missing free throws and Erik Spoelstra’s team fouling the Wizards while up by over 20 points.
“43 shots, 43 free throws, I saw some highlights…. 83 points is impressive, but it gets to a point where you have to respect the game,” Horry told Spectrum SportsNet’s postgame show after the Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“There were moments in this game where it was not respected,” added Horry. “Still, though, 83 points is a lot, and I appreciate the effort.”
NBA Courtside
Robert Horry says Bam 83 point game needs a asterisk:
“43 shots, 43 FTs, I saw some highlights… 83 points is impressive but it gets to a point you have to respect the game. There were moments in this game it wasn’t respected. It’ll go down as 2nd most in the game, I’m putting
Elicping Kobe Bryant’s 81 Points
Horry added that although the record books will recognize Adebayo’s game as the second-highest scoring feat in history — surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81 and only behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 — he doesn’t see it as comparable to those other performances.
“Yes, it’ll go down as the second most [points] in a game, but I’m putting an asterisk by this one,” stressed Horry, who won three championships with the Lakers.
Horry’s sentiments were shared by scores of former players and analysts, including ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, who was appalled by the Heat’s “disgusting” tactics.
“It was honestly just awful, hideous, disgusting basketball down the stretch,” MacMahon said on the “Hoop Collective” podcast on Wednesday morning.
“That was the most blatant stat-chasing I’ve ever seen! I enjoyed the ethical 39 by Wemby [against the Boston Celtics] more than I did the egregious 83.”
NBA Base
Tim MacMahon went OFF on Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance 😬
“It was honestly just awful, hideous, disgusting basketball down the stretch… that was the most blatant stat chasing I’ve ever seen! I enjoyed the ethical 39 by Wemby more than I did the egregious 83.”
(Via Hoop
Bam Adebayo, Heat Face Backlash
Elsewhere, FS1’s Craig Carton called Tuesday’s game “a disgrace” to basketball.
“This Miami Heat vs Washington Wizards game is a disgrace to basketball,” he wrote.
“Miami Up 26 and fouling Washington as soon as ball is inbounded and missing free throws on purpose to get Bam Adebayo more shots and points is pathetic. Wizards are triple teaming Bam full court trying to prevent him from scoring 83 which he now did. He has taken over 40 free throws and over 40 shots. Total s**t show.”
The Ringer’s Ryena Russillo sarcastically said that the Heat shouldn’t be blamed for seizing the movement against a sorry Wizards taam trying to tank.
“Loved every minute of Bam’s 83. The absurd possessions. The home broadcast raving about his unselfishness when he made a pass. Spo’s ridiculous challenge. Fouling up 20+ to stop the clock. The bombs from 3. Washington fouling a different player so Bam wouldn’t get the shot. The missed FTA to try for another possession.
“Can’t get mad at Miami when the other team is hoping to lose.”
One of the main criticisms leveled against Adebayo was that he attempted a whopping 43 shots and 43 free throws to get to 83 points, becoming the first player ever to shoot less than 50% from the field en route to at least 70 points, per ESPN Research.
In the second half, Adebayo shot a paltry 36% from the field, going 2-of-11 from deep and 7-of-19 overall. All in all, he missed 23 shots, including 15 threes, and yet recorded the second-highest scoring game in history. Even as he kept bricking shots, the Heat, the referees and the Wizards seemed intent on helping him reach 83.