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Recap: Bam Adebayo drops 83 points in second-highest individual scoring game in NBA history

Check out the best highlights, news, notes and observations as Bam Adebayo creates a historic night in the Association.

Ben Lambert, for NBA.com

Bam Adebayo put up 83 points — the second-highest individual scoring game in NBA history — to lead the Heat over the Wizards on League Pass.

What we know about Tuesday night’s games:

  • Victor Wembanyama (39 pts, 11 reb, career-high 8 3PM) led San Antonio to a 125-116 win over the Celtics in the opening half of our nationally televised doubleheader.
  • The Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 120-106, as Luka Dončić (31 pts, 11 reb, 11 ast) and Austin Reaves (31 pts) combined to take control over their Western rival.
  • Bam Adebayo scored 83 points on 20-of-43 shooting and an NBA-record 36 free throws, leading the Heat over the Wizards 150-129.

MARCH 11, 2026 // 2:11 ET

One time for Bam Adebayo

83 points! The Heat star overwhelmed the Wizards to deliver a special scoring performance.

Adebayo was electric in the first quarter, putting up 31 points — a Heat record — and passed his previous career-high of 41 points by halftime, reaching 43.

At the end of the third, he broke the Heat’s franchise scoring record with 62.

By the fourth, he surpassed Kobe Bryant’s legendary performance against the Toronto Raptors, filling it up with 83 points. With the performance, he raised his scoring average from 18.9 ppg to an even 20.0 ppg.

He set a new NBA record with 36 free throws, shattering the old mark of 28, held by Wilt Chamberlain (as part of his 100-point game) and Adrian Dantley.

“Wilt, me, then Kobe,” Adebayo said afterwards.

Dreams are made of lesser stuff.

Check out the highlights below.

MARCH 11, 2026 // 1:50 ET

Tuesday’s results

MARCH 11, 2026 // 1:37 ET

Lakers defeat Timberwolves

120-106. Luka Dončić (31 pts, 11 reb, 11 ast) took control and never looked back, sparking a Lakers’ squad that led for most of the contest, aided by Austin Reaves (31 pts).

Los Angeles ended with a 56-42 advantage in points in the paint, as well as 20 points off turnovers to four for Minnesota.

Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 14 points apiece.

MARCH 11, 2026 // 1:01 ET

Lakers up on the Timberwolves

84-68, heading into the fourth quarter on NBC and Peacock.

Los Angeles is dominating the paint, dropping 44 points there to Minnesota’s 28. As discussed earlier tonight, they’re dominant when driving to the hole.

Luka Dončić (26 pts, 10 reb, 9 ast) is leading the way for the Lakers, who have held Anthony Edwards to 14 points on 2-of-15 shooting. Austin Reaves has 18.

MARCH 11, 2026 // 12:46 ET

Buzelis balled out for the Bulls

Putting up a career-high 41 points in a 130-124 win over the Warriors in overtime.

Josh Giddey (21 pts, 13 reb, 17 ast) added a sterling triple-double in Chicago’s victory.

MARCH 11, 2026 // 12:25 ET

83 points for Bam Adebayo

Count along on one of the great scoring nights in NBA history.

MARCH 11, 2026 // 12:22 ET

Greatness knows greatness

MARCH 11, 2026 // 12:16 ET

League Pass Alert: Everything’s close

Catch some close hoops to cap the night on League Pass.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 11:59 ET

Salute from one of the game’s great scorers

MARCH 10, 2026 // 11:52 ET

Timberwolves up on the Cavaliers

33-30 with 6:21 to go in the second quarter on NBC and Peacock.

Deandre Ayton (8 pts, 10 reb) is dominating the paint, but being countered by six Timberwolves with 5+ points.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 11:15 ET

Celebrating Bam Adebayo on a historic night

MARCH 10, 2026 // 10:57 ET

13 years ago today…

DeAndre Jordan took flight in Detroit.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 10:36 ET

Spurs defeat Celtics

125-116.

Victor Wembanyama (39 pts, 11 reb, career-high 8 3PM) led the way for San Antonio, while former Spur Derrick White (34 pts, 19 in the third quarter) was the offensive fulcrum for Boston.

Mason Plumlee is hitting the Spurs’ ceremonial drum as the crowd claps in unison — a good night in the Frost Bank Center.

“It means everything (to have the fans behind you),” said Wembanyama.

Ron Harper Jr. (23 pts) had a career-high for Boston while playing against his brother Dylan.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 10:19 ET

Wemby going off

A career-high eight 3-pointers for Victor Wembanyama, who has 39 points as the Spurs take a 111-105 lead over the Celtics in the fourth quarter with 5:55 to go on NBC and Peacock.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 10:08 ET

83 points for Bam Adebayo

In front of his mother and girlfriend A’ja Wilson, with the Kaseya Center crowd roaring, Bam Adebayo just knocked down two free throws to reach 83 points and achieve the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.

“His game, him, speaks for itself,” said Eric Reid. “One of the great games in the history of basketball… Just a surreal moment — incredible.”

MARCH 10, 2026 // 10:03 ET

Bam’s got 81

He’s the third player in NBA history to pass the 80-point mark, joining Kobe Bryant (81 pts on Jan. 22, 2006) and Wilt Chamberlain (100 pts on Mar. 2, 1962).

MARCH 10, 2026 // 10:01 ET

Rockets up on the Raptors

90-83 with 10:22 to go in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Durant has 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting to lead the way for Houston.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 9:53 ET

76 points for Bam Adebayo

On 20-of-40 shooting and 30-of-37 shooting from the line.

My word.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 9:51 ET

Suns up on the Bucks

100-97, heading into the fourth quarter in Milwaukee.

Kyle Kuzma (31 pts) is leading the way for the Bucks, while Devin Booker (27 pts) is the top man for the Suns.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 9:30 ET

Bam’s up to 62

At the end of three quarters in Miami, with the Heat up 113-97.

Nikola Jokić previously held the single-game scoring high this season. He dropped 56 points against the Timberwolves on Christmas Day.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 9:22 ET

Bam is exploding

Adebayo, now up to 58 points, is 16-of-33 from the field, along with a 20-of-23 mark from the free throw line.

Heat up 109-83 on the Wizards with 2:40 to go in the third quarter.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 9:20 ET

League Pass Alert: Grizzlies-Sixers

We’re going down to the wire in Philly, with the Sixers up 119-115 with 6:19 to go after a Cameron Payne 3-pointer forced a Memphis timeout with the crowd going crazy.

Ty Jerome (26 pts) leads seven Grizzlies in double figures, while Payne (27 pts on 8-of-9 shooting) is pacing things for the 76ers.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 9:14 ET

Giannis in the lane

Bucks 65, Suns 62 at the half in Phoenix.

Devin Booker has 20 to lead all scorers, but the Greek Freak delivered this picturesque drive to the tin.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 8:58 ET

Bam getting buckets

With 9:00 left to go in the third quarter, Bam Adebayo’s up to 45 points on 14-of-26 shooting, as the Heat open up a 82-65 lead over the Wizards.

His previous career high was 41 points, set against the Brooklyn Nets on March 21, 2021.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 8:40 ET

Woah, Jalen Green

Green made the defender touch Earth.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 8:12 ET

What a quarter for Bam Adebayo

The Heat stalwart, fresh off becoming the second player in team history to score 10,000+ points (Dwyane Wade), dropped 31 in the first quarter on 10-of-16 shooting.

Miami’s up 45-31 with 11:16 to go in the second quarter in Washington.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 7:30 ET

Grizzlies up early on Sixers

26-19 with 3:23 to go in the first quarter.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper, signed to a two-year deal by Memphis last week, is averaging a career-high 8.1 ppg for the Grizzlies, including shooting 40.7% from 3-point range on 2.2 attempts per game.
The 2023 first round pick might be a sleeper to watch.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 6:30 ET

The Lakers to the rack

No team is shooting a higher percentage from the field (49.8%) or on drives (54.3%) than the Los Angeles Lakers, thanks mainly to their trio of stars — Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

  • Dončić: 10.7 points on 13.7 drives per game, shooting 61.1%
  • Reaves: 9.5 points on 11.9 drives per game, shooting 57.7%
  • James: 5.0 points on 7.2 drives per game, shooting 50.9%

Reaves delivered on the drive to lift the Lakers over the Timberwolves 106-105 on Oct. 29.

The Lake Show’s star trio, averaging more points by attacking the rim than five teams, face Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota Timberwolves again tonight. Keep an eye on the battle in the paint.

MARCH 10, 2026 // 6:00 ET

Welcome to an 11-game night in the NBA!

Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers take on Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the nightcap of our ‘Coast 2 Coast Tuesday’ doubleheader on NBC and Peacock.

It’s ‘Coast 2 Coast Tuesday,’ featuring Jayson Tatum’s Celtics facing Victor Wembanayama’s Spurs (8 ET) and Anthony Edwards’ Timberwolves taking on Luka Dončić’s Lakers (11 ET) on NBC and Peacock.

Here’s tonight’s complete schedule:

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