The NBA record book got an update Tuesday, courtesy of Bam Adebayo.
The Miami Heat star erupted for 83 points in a 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards, delivering the second-highest-scoring game in NBA history -- trailing only Wilt Chamberlain's legendary 100-point performance in 1962.
Entering Tuesday, Adebayo's season high was 32 points, and his career high was 41. By the end of the opening quarter, he was already approaching both figures. He set the tone immediately, outscoring the entire Wizards team in the first quarter, 31-29.
Adebayo went 20-of-43 from the field, 7-of-22 from 3-point range and 36-of-43 at the free throw line. According to ESPN Research, Adebayo joined Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history with at least 20 made field goals and 25 free throws in a single game.
The performance topped the modern-era benchmark set by Kobe Bryant's 81-point game in 2006 -- a mark that stood for two decades as the highest-scoring performance since Chamberlain's 100-point night.
As Adebayo's historic scoring night unfolded, social media lit up with reactions across the basketball world. Here are the top posts celebrating his feat.
Sports world weighs in
Early in the night, Adebayo surpassed a mark held by LeBron James. Miami's previous single-quarter franchise record was 25 points, set by the current Los Angeles Lakers star -- a number Adebayo surpassed with his 31-point first quarter.
Later, with his 62nd point, Adebayo broke James' record for the most points in a single game in Heat history.
James was among the first to congratulate him online. Adebayo's girlfriend, Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson, cheered him on from the sideline and later joined the celebration online.
BAM BAM BAM 💥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 11, 2026
A'ja Wilson live posting while Bam Adebayo has a historic scoring night is everything ❤️ 👏
— espnW (@espnW) March 11, 2026
(via aja22wilson/Threads) pic.twitter.com/7ASvG9e5Oo
83 for CAP 🫡 🤯 pic.twitter.com/wdoptsezDp
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) March 11, 2026
Bro what
— Jalen Brunson (@jalenbrunson1) March 11, 2026
83?????
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) March 11, 2026
@Bam1of1 going CRAZY
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) March 11, 2026
YEAHHH @Bam1of1 ‼️‼️‼️
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) March 11, 2026
83 Adebayo 🥶😮💨🔥
— Victor Oladipo (@VicOladipo) March 11, 2026
83 💥🫡
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) March 11, 2026
🫡🫡 daaang Bam!!! https://t.co/gJSE0aZJJl
— Cam Jordan (@camjordan94) March 11, 2026
83!!!!! @Bam1of1
— CC Sabathia (@CC_Sabathia) March 11, 2026
