MIAMI (AP) \u2014 Erik Spoelstra had a very clear message to those who didn\u2019t like how the final minutes of\u2026<\/p>\n
MIAMI (AP) \u2014 Erik Spoelstra had a very clear message to those who didn\u2019t like how the final minutes<\/a> of Bam Adebayo\u2019s 83-point game<\/a> played out.<\/p>\n Put simply, the Miami Heat coach doesn\u2019t care.<\/p>\n \u201cI apologize to absolutely no one,\u201d Spoelstra said Thursday. \u201cPeriod.\u201d<\/p>\n Adebayo\u2019s 83-point game \u2014 now the No. 2 single-game total in NBA history, 17 behind Wilt Chamberlain\u2019s 100<\/a> and two ahead of Kobe Bryant\u2019s 81<\/a> \u2014 was one unlike any other. The Heat center took 43 shots in a 150-129 win on Tuesday over the Washington Wizards, made an NBA-record 36 free throws<\/a> and had an NBA-record 43 tries from the foul line.<\/p>\n And the last few minutes were a circus, with the Wizards as much as quadruple-teaming Adebayo \u2014 who was still getting the ball \u2014 and the Heat fouling Washington players on four occasions in the final moments to extend the game and get their center more opportunities to score.<\/p>\n Lost in the hubbub about the final minutes, Spoelstra insisted, is this: Adebayo had 31 points in the first quarter, 43 by halftime, 62 through three quarters, 70 with 9:05 left and 77 with 3:26 remaining. The first instance of Miami fouling to get the ball back for Adebayo was with 1:40 left.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a moment, and when there\u2019s a moment in time like that, it\u2019s carpe diem,\u201d Spoelstra said, using the Latin term for \u201cseize the day.\u201d \u201cYou have to go for it, and that was just thrilling. And I\u2019m honored that we were all able to be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n A handful of coaches around the NBA \u2014 including the Los Angeles Clippers\u2019 Tyronn Lue and Denver\u2019s David Adelman among them \u2014 have indicated they had no problem with the Heat using the final minutes to help add to what was already an enormous point total. <\/p>\n Adelman said Adebayo is as good of a professional as there is in the league, and to take a night \u201cand go a little bit crazy\u201d was entertaining.<\/p>\n \u201cHe made the extra pass in the fourth quarter when he had 60. He blocked a shot. He was still playing the game,\u201d Adelman said. \u201cWhen you get to 70, I\u2019m sorry, man, like all bets are off. \u2026 I thought it was really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n Wizards coach Brian Keefe didn\u2019t seem thrilled Tuesday with how the last few minutes went. On Thursday in Orlando, before his team played the Magic, Keefe didn\u2019t reminisce.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re focused on today,\u201d Keefe said.<\/p>\n Spoelstra said he spoke with Adebayo before the game about a need to have some urgency. The Heat played with several of their top players \u2014 Norman Powell, Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins and Kel\u2019el Ware among them \u2014 out of that game with injuries.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a Tuesday night game against a team where they\u2019re not playing for anything, where their organization is trying to lose,\u201d Spoelstra said. \u201cWe\u2019ve already lost a game in that kind of situation. \u2026 I spoke to Bam about I want, as our best player and team captain, for him to be locked in and ready. And, he sure was.\u201d<\/p>\n Spoelstra acknowledged that leaving Adebayo in toward the end of a decided game \u2014 Adebayo checked out for good with 1:08 left \u2014 was unusual, and it was. He also said memorable moments are \u201cwhat our fans want to see\u201d and that \u201ca really magical night just appeared out of nowhere.\u201d<\/p>\n In his mind, that doesn\u2019t merit any apologies.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t take away anything from our organization, how we feel about Bam, how special that night was,\u201d Spoelstra said. \u201cOur fan base is electrified by this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n And so was the head coach, who made clear that he\u2019ll do anything for Adebayo.<\/p>\n The Heat got blown out at home by a bad Sacramento team on Dec. 6, one day before Spoelstra played host to his annual 5K run to benefit Nicklaus Children\u2019s Hospital. The run was starting in the wee hours of a Sunday morning. Adebayo had only nine points in the loss to the Kings, and the Heat were sliding.<\/p>\n Without being asked, Adebayo showed up to help that morning. Spoelstra was blown away by the gesture.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was there, not to run, just to support,\u201d Spoelstra said. \u201cJust to support and let people know that he was supporting this cause. That says enough about him as a human being. That\u2019s why I\u2019ll do anything for him as a competitor and as his head coach.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n