Mar 10, 2026, 10:09 PM ET

MIAMI — 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 a 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.

83! pic.twitter.com/qn8x8xsuxM

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) March 11, 2026

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.

“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.

Adebayo got off to a fast start, scoring 31 points in the opening quarter and 43 at the half behind some hot shooting beyond the arc. He cooled off in the second half, however, and shot under 37% from the field the rest of the way, becoming the only player to score 70 points while shooting below 50% from the field.

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Despite the shooting struggles, Adebayo was able to get to the free throw line at will against a 29th-ranked Wizards defense that was desperate to not let history be made against them. The fourth quarter featured some comical moment, with the Heat making it clear they wanted Adebayo to get the ball and get to the line with Miami in the bonus, and the Wizards trying to foul others to halt the scoring barrage.

With Adebayo nearing Bryant’s 81-point mark, the Heat even began intentionally fouling the Wizards while on defense to preserve time.

“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.”

Adebayo entered the game with a career-high of 41, set Jan. 23, 2021, against Brooklyn. He needed less than a half to break it.

It turned out to be that kind of night for Adebayo

The Associated Press contributed to this report.