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MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 08: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center on March 08, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat have been building around Bam Adebayo in the last couple of years. He has been the best player that they have had in each of the last two seasons, and he is still hoping to reach his full potential. He’s one of the best defensive centers in the league.
Adebayo has made five All-Defense teams in his career so far. It’s very likely that he makes a sixth once this season has finished, as well. Offensively, he is known as a solid player, but he hasn’t been looked at as a lead scorer. That might have changed after Tuesday.
On Tuesday night against the Wizards, Adebayo was able to set some NBA history.
GettyMiami Heat center Bam Adebayo celebrates.(Photo by Peter Joneleit/Getty Images)
Miami Heat Star Bam Adebayo Has Most Points in One Quarter in a Decade
In the first quarter against the Washington Wizards, Adebayo scored 31 points. That was the most points anyone has scored in a single quarter since Kevin Love had 34 points a decade ago. Adebayo’s 31 in the first are the second-most in the play-by-play era.
What’s so impressive about Adebayo’s performance is that he did it on 10-16 shooting from the field and 5-8 from beyond the 3-point arc. He was the only one in the starting lineup who could consistently create his own shot. Because of that, he took a ton of them in that first quarter.
Miami desperately needs Adebayo to increase his scoring output. Right now, the Heat sit seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. That would mean they would be stuck in the play-in yet again if the season were to end right now. That is where they have been living.
Adebayo is the best scorer Miami has without Andrew Wiggins and Tyler Herro in the lineup. It wouldn’t be smart for the Heat to expect an outburst like this in every game. However, this is nice to see for Miami, so they can continue to build around him.
GettyMiami Heat center Bam Adebayo drives the ball. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
The Heat Still Need Better Offense
Miami needs an infusion of offense over the next few weeks. They have just the 13th-best offense in the NBA to this point. Injuries have certainly hampered them, but that number has to be higher if they want to escape the play-in.
Keeping the team healthy is going to be key for them to do that. Wiggins has missed the last three games with a big toe injury. Herro has been dealing with injuries all season long and has played in just 20 games this season. Having him ready to go down the stretch is a high priority for the team.
Adebayo can only carry the team for so long offensively. He won’t have many 31-point outbursts in single quarters during his career, so Miami has to take advantage when they do. The Heat do have the fourth-best defense in the NBA, so that is what is keeping them in the playoff race.
Ryan Stano Ryan Stano covers the NBA for Heavy.com. He has been covering sports since 2017, covering the NFL, College Football, College Basketball, and the NBA. His work has been featured on Yahoo, Bleacher Report, FanSided, and Sports Illustrated. More about Ryan Stano
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