Adebayo averages 20.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo suffered an injury scare during the team’s big win over the Utah Jazz as he collided with teammate Duncan Robinson during a scramble for the basketball that forced him to the cloakrooms. The Miami big man spoke to the media after the game to not only give an assessment of the team’s performance, but also how he feels after the collision.
It would be a quick trip to the locker room as Adebayo would get back into the match and even finish the contest. He told the media that this was happening and added a humorous tone by saying that “Duncan set me up.”
“Duncan set me up,” Adebayo said with a smile. “I was caught off guard, but these games happen. I went to the back, got treatment and finished the game.
Adebayo unable to give full details on injury risk during match
When asked later what exactly he had been treated with, Adebayo simply responded with “my body.” When asked which exact part of the body received the treatment, he replied “I can’t tell you, not yet.”
While there is some secrecy about the exact injury Adebayo suffered, it doesn’t appear to be serious since he returned and finished the match as previously reported. He would have a huge match for Miami despite the scare as he scored 23 points on efficient 10-of-15 shooting, collected seven rebounds and recorded three assists.
Bumps and bruises for the Heat in addition to Adebayo
Adebayo wasn’t the only player to suffer bumps and bruises as forward Caleb Martin was accidentally hit in the mouth by star Jimmy Butler. It’s not expected to be serious or require a long absence, but Martin required six stitches and was unable to speak to the media afterward.
However, Butler spoke to the media and told his side of the story, describing the series of events in a “PG 13 way.” The Heat star who scored a season-high 37 points, said he didn’t know who took the hit from his swing, but he knew it was them. “leak” and stopped short of saying he wished it wasn’t someone on his team who got hit.
“In true PG 13 fashion, I got it.” And when I hit him, I didn’t know it was him,” Butler said. “But whoever I hit, I knew it was leaking and needed stitches because I hit it soft. I just wish it was…don’t let me say, they’ll get me, they’ll try to get me.
Jimmy Butler talks about hitting Caleb Martin in an accident, which left him with stitches.
“I got it…” #HeatCulture pic.twitter.com/bVAJKTn4Fs
-Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) March 3, 2024
Regardless, Martin had a huge game, scoring 18 points, including four of his six three-point attempts. He would also have three blocks, most on a chase as Adebayo liked to see effort on the defensive side of the ball.
“He hit some big shots in those moments of truth, but for me it’s on the defensive side. He’s active, he gets those chase blocks where you think there’s no chance, but you see Caleb flying to get them,” Adebayo said. “These are the plays that help us win, these little plays may go unnoticed, but for us they are winning plays.”
Heat believes they can conquer any team with Adebayo’s ‘competitive spirit’
Even though it was a collective team effort to put away the Jazz, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said media that Butler and Adebayo played with “a competitive spirit” in the second half. He added that the team believes that if both are in their best game, “We can conquer whatever we need to conquer.”
“Bam and Jimmy really took off from there. You know, when Bam and Jimmy play with that competitive spirit and are connected from a competitive standpoint, our guys feel like we can beat anybody, that we can conquer whatever we need to conquer “said Spoelstra. “And they were at their best on both ends of the court. Caleb has a busted hand, hit in the mouth, every play he makes is just a collision here, a collision there. He inspires everyone in our locker room, and he’s just one player. He just makes big plays at the right time. This inspires other guys to do the same.
Erik Spoelstra talks about the win against Utah and the performances of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. #HEATCulture
“When Bam and Jimmy play with that competitive spirit, our guys believe we can beat anyone and conquer whatever we need to conquer…” pic.twitter.com/U6vlQdtyQs
-Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) March 3, 2024
The Heat are 34-26 on the season which places them sixth in the Eastern Conference. They are looking to win two games in a row as their next game is Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons.
About the Author
Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as associate editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school’s athletic programs since his freshman year at FAU University Press, where he was sports editor and editor-in-chief. He later covered FAU Sports for the Palm Beach Post.
