A jaw-dropping NBA scoring performance Tuesday night sent fans—and even Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry—into shock. Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo stunned the basketball world by scoring 83 points in a 150–129 win over the Washington Wizards.
His scoring outburst ranks as the second-highest in NBA history, behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962. The 6-foot-9 center surpassed Kobe Bryant’s 81-point performance in 2006. He also broke several Miami franchise records, including LeBron James’s 61 points in 2014.
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Adebayo started the night on fire, scoring 31 points in the first quarter. By halftime, he had 43 points. Through the third quarter, he matched Curry’s career-high 62 points, which the Golden State Warriors guard set in 2021. He added 21 more points in the fourth quarter to finish with 83.
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo reacts toward the referee during a game against the Brooklyn NetsSam Navarro-Imagn Images
(Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
After the game, the Heat shared a locker-room photo of Adebayo holding a handwritten “83” sign on social media. Curry, widely regarded as one of the NBA’s greatest scorers, reposted it on his Instagram story. He added a short caption that perfectly captured the basketball world’s reaction to the Heat star’s incredible performance.
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“You did what now @bam1of1 👀” the Warriors legend wrote in disbelief, tagging Adebayo.
Curry and Adebayo were teammates on Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. They helped the United States win gold. Their connection made Curry’s reaction personal, highlighting respect between the two NBA stars.
While Adebayo reached historic heights, Curry is struggling with a persistent right knee issue. He has been sidelined since Jan. 30.
Golden State has struggled significantly since the star guard was sidelined. They have gone 5–10 in the 15 consecutive games he has missed. They are also currently on a three-game losing streak after a 130–124 overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls Tuesday night.
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Multiple reports confirmed Curry will miss at least 10 more days or the next six games. A follow-up evaluation on Wednesday confirmed his return is not imminent. But the Warriors stressed that Curry is making progress and will undergo another evaluation after 10 days.
Related: Steve Kerr, Warriors Dealt More Injury News Before Bulls Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.