By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 22:22 EDT, 12 March 2026 | Updated: 22:22 EDT, 12 March 2026
MIAMI (AP) - Bam Adebayo's encore performance: 21 points.
Adebayo - in the game after his 83-point outburst - settled for 62 fewer points Thursday night, when he and the Miami Heat defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112-105 for their seventh consecutive win.
Adebayo's stat line: 6 for 20 from the field, 9 for 13 from the foul line and 0 for 5 from 3-point range in 35 minutes.
It was nothing like the 20-for-43 shooting from the field, 36-for-43 from the foul line, 7-for-22 from 3-point range effort that he turned in Tuesday in a win over the Washington Wizards for the No. 2 single-game scoring effort - behind only Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point night - in NBA history.
But he came up big when Miami needed it the most, getting 12 of his points in the fourth quarter against the Bucks.
The Heat had a slew of celebrations in Adebayo´s honor, some of which started Wednesday when the team unveiled $83 jerseys, $13 tickets (in honor of his actual jersey number) and even started assembling Adebayo No. 83 jerseys.
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo warms up before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
On the concourses Thursday - from the time the doors opened until, of course, 8:30 p.m. - the team was selling 83-cent popcorn, chips or can of soda at some kiosks, and an $8.30 meal deal that included a hot dog, popcorn and fountain drink.
"You feel awesome for Bam," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "You feel so great for his story, how he´s gotten to this point. And you feel great for his family, his mom, A'ja (Wilson, his four-time WNBA MVP girlfriend), his whole circle. Just quality human beings. They make you want to root for that whole team."
Adebayo remains the only player in the NBA to have 100 points in a two-game span this season. He's actually done it twice: he had 24 points in the game before the 83-pointer (for a 107-point total) and now has a 104-point, two-game stretch as well.
His showing Tuesday was still the talk of the league on Thursday, and Bucks coach Doc Rivers thinks it's a night that will be talked about for a long time.
"It was just one of those rare nights where a great guy - that´s what Bam is - had a great night and it was all good," Rivers said. "That´s the way I looked at it."
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo warms up before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) shoots a free throw to reach 83 points, the second-highest single game total in NBA history, in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) is congratulated by forward Keshad Johnson (16) after reaching 83 points, the second-highest single game total in NBA history, in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami Heat teammates celebrate center Bam Adebayo, right, after he scored 83 points, the second-highest single game total in NBA history, in an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)