5. Adebayo outduels Zion Williamson in fourth quarter vs Pelicans
With Jimmy Butler being ejected in the fourth quarter after an altercation with Naji Marshall, the Heat found themselves in a dogfight In New Orleans against the Pelicans. Bam Adebayo was quiet offensively for a majority of the game, but turned up his aggression level in the fourth quarter and erupted for 12 in the final quarter. Adebayo finished the game with 24 points and the Heat defeated the Pelicans 106-95.
The Heat went to their two-man game with Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo which led to a floater and a beautiful eurostep slam by Adebayo to give Miami some breathing room and make it a two-possession game with each of those buckets.
On the other end, Adebayo stepped up to the challenge and guarded Zion Williamson who was having a strong all-around outing. Adebayo had a phenomenal block on Williamson and was one of Adebayo's most impressive defensive plays of the season given Williamson is almost unstoppable around the basket.
Best defender in the world pic.twitter.com/unpbH4lqxR
β πππΌπ ππΌππππ (@HeatvsHaters) February 24, 2024
With many great big men in the league such as Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and rising superstar Victor Wembanyama, Adebayo is destined to give us many more years of competing against the cream of the crop, and his ability to play high-level basketball on both ends will pay dividends in future games.