Bam Adebayo scored a season-high 35 points, but he took the most pride in the screen that freed Klay Thompson for the overtime 3-pointer that gave the Miami Heat a 117-116 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
“Screeners don’t usually get a lot of credit, but that’s probably my best screen for sure,” Adebayo said.
Thompson hit the 3 with one second left after Miami trailed 116-114.
“I just had to make sure I got him open,” Adebayo said. “I mean, guy is one of the greatest shooters in this league. In league’s history, actually, excuse me.”
Adebayo also had a season-high 10 rebounds and shot 14 of 20 from the field.
“My teammates was feeding me the ball and I got it going early, so, you know, the rest is history,” he said.
Miami trailed by 20 in the second quarter, when the Clippers outscored the Heat 43-19. Adebayo said the Heat had been “giving airspace threes” before the halftime adjustment.
“Had to grit out a win,” he said.
He called the Heat’s defensive pressure their identity. “That’s what we have to be, not every other night. We got to be there every night,” Adebayo said. “We’re not scoring, we got to make sure they don’t score either.”
“Being disruptive. We were flying around,” he said. “That’s what it takes.”
Adebayo praised Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had 27 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
“He’s willing to sacrifice,” Adebayo said. “He’s coming to a different team trying to play the right way, and that takes sacrifice.”
“It takes a mental effort to do that,” he said. “He’s buying into it.”
Miami (3-5) has won three of four after an 0-4 start. Wednesday’s win opened a back-to-back.
“Back to back is always good to get the first one,” Adebayo said. “It’s a short flight. So, hurry up, get out of here, get a good nice rest, and we’re back at it tomorrow.”
Miami plays at Golden State on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET.
