Heat’s Adebayo Explodes for Historic 31-Point Quarter, 43 in First Half

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo delivered a record-breaking performance Tuesday night, pouring in 31 points during the opening quarter against Washington. His 43-point first half shattered multiple Heat franchise records and represented the second-best half in the NBA over the past 30 seasons.

MIAMI — Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo delivered a career-defining performance Tuesday evening that rewrote the franchise record books before halftime even arrived.

During the opening 12 minutes against the Washington Wizards, Adebayo erupted for 31 points, shattering Miami’s previous mark for most points scored in any single quarter. That explosive start also matched the team’s existing record for first-half scoring before the second period had even begun.

By intermission, Adebayo had accumulated 43 points, establishing a new Heat benchmark for any half-game performance. His first-half total surpassed his previous career-high of 41 points — which had been achieved across an entire contest against Brooklyn on January 23, 2021.

The big man’s shooting display was remarkably efficient, connecting on 13 of 24 field goal attempts, 12 of 14 free throw tries, and an impressive 5 of 11 three-point shots during the opening two quarters.

Prior to Tuesday’s contest, Adebayo’s season-high stood at 32 points. He equaled that mark with a free throw attempt with 5:53 remaining in the second quarter, simultaneously breaking Miami’s first-half scoring standard.

Adebayo’s 31-point quarter represented the league’s highest-scoring individual quarter since Karl-Anthony Towns netted 32 for Minnesota during a third quarter at San Antonio on March 14, 2022.

Beyond Towns and Adebayo, only three additional players have reached the 31-point threshold in a single quarter over the past three decades.

Klay Thompson holds the NBA record for any quarter with 37 points for Golden State against Sacramento in the third quarter on January 23, 2015.

Kevin Love tallied 34 for Cleveland against Portland in the first quarter on November 23, 2016.

Carmelo Anthony contributed 33 for Denver against Minnesota in the third quarter on December 10, 2008.

Miami’s previous first-quarter scoring record belonged to LeBron James, who scored 25 points at Cleveland on March 18, 2014. James also held the franchise’s only other 25-point quarter, which came during his team-record 61-point performance against Charlotte on March 3, 2014.

Before Tuesday’s breakout, Adebayo had never exceeded 19 points in any single quarter throughout his career.

Adebayo’s 43-point opening half ranks as the NBA’s second-highest total in at least 30 seasons, dating back to when digital play-by-play tracking began during the 1996-97 campaign.

Towns previously held the modern era’s top mark with 44 points for Minnesota against Charlotte on January 22, 2024.

The all-time NBA record for first-half scoring remains 53 points, a mark shared by Denver’s David Thompson and San Antonio’s George Gervin. Both players achieved the feat on April 9, 1978 — the final day of that regular season — as they competed in separate games to determine the league’s scoring champion.