BBNBA: Bam Adebayo's productive Game 1 helps Miami steal win in Boston

You just know what you’re getting out of Bam Adebayo. It usually entails 30-plus minutes of efficient scoring, dominant rebound presence, and a great effort on defense. Wednesday night was no different.

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Adebayo played his game perfectly. The “second-man option” which he seems to have perfected during these NBA Playoffs, was in full effect again. This time, helping Miami steal Game 1, 123-116 in Boston.

In 36 minutes of action, Adebayo finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. While he isn’t the primary scoring option or perhaps not the designated “we want the ball in his hands as time expires” guy, Bam has demonstrated that he can handle every other role on the team.

Bam was steady from the jump and efficient from the floor (9-13 FGM) pic.twitter.com/wBbQuYn1uF

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 18, 2023

Adebayo’s eight boards were the most of any Miami player in the contest. He was only out-rebounded by Jaylen Brown in the game, who had nine rebounds. Bam’s five assists were only two shy of a team-high of seven from Jimmy Butler, who’s Miami’s primary playmaker.

Adebayo wasn’t shy in calling himself a “phenomenal passer” postgame, to which Kyle Lowry had to do a double-take in a priceless reaction.

While Miami vs. Boston poses a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals where the Celtics won in seven, it also poses a redemption shot for Adebayo.

In last season’s ECF, Adebayo averaged 15.0 PPG and 8.4 RPG. Coming into this postseason, those numbers had bolstered to 20.4 PPG and 9.2 RPG. Adebayo has cemented himself as one of the league’s best bigs and has the productivity to prove it. Just ask the +18 plus-minus that he recorded in the Game 1 win. His game is being recognized as well. Adebayo was named to the All-Defensive Second Team just last week.

BBNBA out West

The Lakers and Nuggets series possesses more BBNBA firepower in a Jamal Murray (DEN) vs. Anthony Davis (LAL) highlighted battle. It was truly the spectacle in Denver on Tuesday night when the BBNBA duo combined for 71 points in a 132-126 Denver win. AD mopped up with 40 points in the loss, while Murray went off for 31 points to put his squad up 1-0 in the series.

Davis will be called upon once again to combat all that Nikola Jokic does. You’d think that Davis’ 40-point Game 1 was enough for him to win that matchup, but Jokic finished with a stat line that makes you re-adjust your eyeballs. The two-time MVP dropped 34 points, 21 rebounds, and 14 assists on Davis and the Lakers’ defense. A marquee showdown in the post will be taking place Thursday night as Davis and Jokic prepare for Round 2 in Game 2.

It’s hard to imagine the Purple and Gold going down 0-2 and finding a way to rally this series around. Denver has been solid this postseason and has the No. 1 seeded regular season to back that up. A must-win for the Lakers is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN later tonight.

5/17/23 BBNBA statistics

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-	MIN
Bam Adebayo (MIA)	123-116 W @ BOS	20	9-13 (0-0)	8	5	1	0	3	+18	36
Tyler Herro (MIA)	123-116 W @ BOS	DNP (hand)	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Tonight in the NBA

Western Conference Finals
8:30 (ESPN) Lakers (Davis, Gabriel, Vanderbilt) @ Nuggets (Murray) | DEN leads 1-0