Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, surpassing Kobe Bryant to claim the second-highest point total in a single game in NBA history.
Only Wilt Chamberlain has ever scored more in one game, recording 100 points in 1962.
The Heat toppled the Wizards 150-129.
83 POINTS FOR BAM ADEBAYO.
— NBA (@NBA) March 11, 2026
THE SECOND-MOST EVER.
Wilt: 100
Bam: 83
Kobe: 81 pic.twitter.com/5AxI6j8m35
Adebayo shot 20-for-43 from the field and 7-for-22 from deep in the historic performance. He also went 36-for-43 from the free-throw line while adding nine rebounds and three assists over 42 minutes.
"An absolutely surreal night," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said postgame, according to ESPN.
Bryant became just the second player in NBA history to reach the 80-point mark in a contest, notching 81 on Jan. 22, 2006.
| Rank | Player | Team | Points | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilt Chamberlain | Warriors | 100 | 1962 |
| 2 | Bam Adebayo | Heat | 83 | 2026 |
| 3 | Kobe Bryant | Lakers | 81 | 2006 |
| 4 | Wilt Chamberlain | Warriors | 78 | 1961 |
| T5 | Wilt Chamberlain | Warriors | 73 | 1962 |
| T5 | Wilt Chamberlain | Warriors | 73 | 1962 |
| T5 | David Thompson | Nuggets | 73 | 1978 |
| T5 | Luka Doncic | Mavericks | 73 | 2024 |
| 9 | Wilt Chamberlain | Warriors | 72 | 1962 |
| T10 | Elgin Baylor | Lakers | 71 | 1960 |
| T10 | David Robinson | Spurs | 71 | 1994 |
| T10 | Donovan Mitchell | Cavaliers | 71 | 2023 |
| T10 | Damian Lillard | Blazers | 71 | 2023 |
The previous Heat franchise record for most points in a single game was held by LeBron James, who scored 61 against the Charlotte Bobcats on March 3, 2014.
"Welp won't have the highest career high in the house anymore," four-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson and Adebayo's girlfriend posted on social media.
Adebayo's previous career high was 41, which he managed to best in the first half of Tuesday's win.
