Play-by-play voice Doris Burke had an issue with the means by which Bam Adebayo scored 83 points.
Adebayo, the Heat and the Wizards all faced criticism for the manner in which Miami’s big man racked up his ridiculous scoring total Tuesday night, with the Heat intentionally fouling late in the game and Adebayo bullying his way to the charity stripe in a game that was out of hand.
The Miami star, who scored 31 points in the first quarter, finished with the second-most points in a game in league history.
“Was I slightly uncomfortable with the six-minute mark and down with some of the intentional fouling and free throws? A little bit,” Burke said Wednesday night on ESPN.
“But I am taking nothing away from Bam Adebayo.”
Miami led comfortably in fourth quarter against the Wizards, who are tanking to end their season and deliberately trying to lose games, while Adebayo made his push.
The Heat intentionally fouled the Wizards four times to give Adebayo additional touches and chances to score and overcome Kobe Bryant’s 81-point showcase on Jan. 22, 2006.
Fourteen of Adebayo’s 21 fourth-quarter points came via free throws as the game came to a halt during his historic pursuit.
Adebayo was fouled 26 times and shot an absurd 43 free throws in Miami’s 150-129 win.
“I just played the game,” Adebayo said after he set the record for free throw attempts in a game.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called the game an “absolutely surreal night” as the league debated Adebayo’s wild performance.
Adebayo’s previous career high was just 41 points, which he tallied against the Brooklyn Nets in 2022.
