Entering Saturday night’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs to open a four-game road trip, the Miami Heat were searching for a bounce back win. They would get just that, and then some, winning in walk-off fashion led by Bam Adebayo.
The Heat captain nailed the mid-range fadeaway at the buzzer to steal the road victory, 105-103. Miami regained control of the Eastern Conference’s sixth seed at a 24-23 record and swept the season series versus the Spurs 2-0.
Adebayo’s game winner was backed by a dominant outing from his near triple-double efforts on a game-high 30 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists and five stocks on 13 of 21 shooting (62%).
It has been an up and down season for the big man, but is starting to look like his All-Star self again as of late.
Over the last four games, Adebayo is putting up averages of 23.5 points, 12.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists to go along with 0.8 steals and 1.3 blocks. His efficiency has been even more impressive— sporting 58/50/85 splits with an elite 68.6% true shooting.
After the win, he spoke with Eric Reid and John Crotty on the call in the winners circle, stating his commitment to staying the course despite what has been an inconsistent season offensively for him.
"Coach putting the ball in my hands says a lot about my work and what I've done behind the scenes,” Adebayo said. “It's been an up and down season for myself this year… I stay true to myself and keep working hard.”
When speaking to the media, coach Erik Spoelstra displayed his admiration for the big man’s impact this season, even when his shot hasn’t been dropping.
Spo: "Bam has been pure/steady this season. There's been things, but he's been the rock of stability for us. He did all the big muscle things... I'm happy for Bam, got to his spot/elevate, beautiful look, to see it float in the air, clock go, that's gotta be a great feeling." pic.twitter.com/2Sjgo54cqW
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) February 2, 2025
It is a terrific sign to see Adebayo start to get into a rhythm. Despite his offensive struggles, the Heat captain has remained a crucial part to the team’s success all year long. His two-way versatility and leadership on and off the court has been as valuable as it ever has.
Throughout all the outside noise the Heat have been a part of during this unpredictable NBA season, Adebayo has always been there to say the right things. His professionalism proves to make him the clear top choice as a captain for Miami, and his teammates have always been there to provide support even during some rough offensive stretches.
This will be a perfect performance to build on for Adebayo and his squad as they have entered a stretch of nine road matchups in 10 games.