NBA Playoff Race Intensifies
NBA playoff races are heating up with weeks left [https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48154032/how-schedule-impact-three-key-nba-playoff-races] — ESPN says schedule quirks could help some teams. Bam Adebayo just scored 83 for the Heat against the Wizards [https://thepicks.com/us/news/nba/bam-adebayo-83-points-miami-heat-wizards-nba-history/].
Adebayo's 83-point performance is the fourth-highest-scoring game in NBA history, surpassing Kobe Bryant's 81-point game in 2006. Only Wilt Chamberlain, with his 100-point and 83-point games, and David Thompson, with a 73-point game, have scored more in a single contest. The Heat's remaining schedule includes matchups against teams with varying records, which could impact their playoff seeding. Their performance in these games will be crucial for solidifying their position in the Eastern Conference standings. The Wizards, on the other hand, are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and are looking towards the draft lottery. Their struggles this season have been compounded by defensive inefficiencies, as highlighted by Adebayo's dominant performance against them.
