Overview
- Miami beat Washington 150-129 as Bam Adebayo scored 83 points, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 and above Kobe Bryant’s 81.
- Coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged using systematic fouling late to generate free throws for Adebayo and said he considered helping him pass Bryant’s mark.
- Adebayo went 20-for-43 from the field, 7-for-22 from three, and 36-for-43 at the line, setting NBA single-game records for free throws made and attempted.
- The outing reset Miami’s franchise scoring record, surpassing LeBron James’s 61, while critics highlighted that the Wizards conceded 150 points.
- Reaction has turned sharply critical in some quarters, with an ESPN reporter calling the pursuit blatant stat-chasing, and there have been no reported NBA sanctions or rule changes.