Miami Heat: Top 5 individual performances to date in 2019-20

2. Bam Adebayo, Mar. 8 at Washington Wizards

With the Heat coming off a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, Jimmy Butler succumbing to a toe injury in the third quarter and key new arrival Jae Crowder sidelined due to a concussion, much was going to fall onto the shoulders of Bam Adebayo heading into a battle in the nation’s capital.

The first-time All-Star certainly didn’t disappoint, recording 27 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in 33 minutes of action for a crucial 100-89 win over the Washington Wizards.

Such has been his season where Adebayo has posted even more gaudy numbers in other games before this one. But considering the loss of personnel and the importance of the win, this may have been his best performance to date.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1237030381150334976?s=20

The win not only snapped a four-game road losing streak. It entrenched the Heat in the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Recording a plus-22 while on the floor, the Heat were 52.3 points per 100 possessions better defensively when Adebayo was on the court.

After the game, coach Spoelstra detailed Adebayo’s role in the win — via Fox Sports Florida & Sun:

"“Effectively at the end since Goran and Jimmy were out, he was our point guard….we just tried to simplify it, throw it to him at the elbow and play offense through him. He was very poised….and he made every right play going down the stretch.”"

It wasn’t just the end of the game in which Adebayo was demonstrating his ability to create and initiate the offense. Averaging 4.3 drives per game leading up to the Wizards’ contest, Adebayo had 14 on the evening, which produced 13 points and one assist without committing a single turnover.

So with the ability to contribute at the defensive end of the floor, as a playmaker and then finishing close to the rim, Adebayo seemingly shows no limits on just how far he can rise.