Forty-three field goal attempts. Thirty-two made free throws. Eighty-three points!?
big man on Tuesday night put up the in NBA history, passing star , who famously on Jan. 22, 2006, against the . Adebayo’s epic performance still trails ‘s , however.
Adebayo’s full stat line in the Heat’s over the : 83 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks. He hit seven 3-pointers on 22 attempts and scored 43 points in the first half — which topped his previous of 41.
Adebayo set records for most free throws made (36) and attempted (43) in a game in NBA history, and the Heat franchise record for most points in a quarter (31), half (43) and game (83). His record-setting night came 12 years and one week after set the previous Heat record with 61 points against the then-Charlotte Bobcats.
Here’s a closer look at Adebayo’s amazing night, with an assist from ESPN Research:
• Prior to Tuesday night’s game, Adebayo’s career high was 41 points. The total from his two highest scoring games (41 and 38) was less than the 83 he scored against the Wizards.
• There have been 11 games this season in which a team failed to score at least 83 points, most recently last week when and the lost to the 108-81.
• Adebayo is the 11th different player in NBA history to score at least 70 points in a game. The other 10: Chamberlain (six times), Bryant, , David Thompson, , , David Robinson, , and .
• He is the first player with a 60-point game this season. had been the last player with a 60-point game, scoring 61 in a double-overtime loss to the in April.
• Adebayo, however, is the 12th different player to score at least 50 points in a game this season. The record for most 50-point scorers in a season is 14, done in both 2021-22 and 2022-23.
• Adebayo scored 62 points through three quarters, the most by any player since Bryant had 62 on Dec. 20, 2005, vs. the (when he famously outscored Dallas 62-61 through three quarters before sitting out the fourth).
• Adebayo had 31 points in the first quarter, the most in the opening frame since had 34 in the first quarter for the against the in 2016.
• He is the first player in Heat history to attempt 40 field goals in a game. Adebayo’s 43 field goal attempts are the most for a player in a non-overtime game since Bryant attempted 50 shots in the in 2016.
• Adebayo as the only players in NBA history with 20 made field goals and 25 made free throws in a game.
• Before Tuesday’s game, the Heat’s season high in free throws made this season was 36 — on Nov. 10 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers. Adebayo made 36 free throws Tuesday night.
• He is the first player in NBA history to make 25 free throws and 5 threes in a game.
• Adebayo shot 20-of-43 from the field. He is the first player in NBA history to score at least 70 points while making less than 50% of his shots.
