How Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo fared in the NBA All-Star Game

Make it two 3-pointers this season for Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, even as the official count remains at one.

Starting for the Eastern Conference in Sunday night’s NBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, Adebayo played a nominal role in a game dominated by perimeter players, an annual night when defensive precepts such as Adebayo’s are cast aside.

But there at least was a moment for Adebayo in his team’s record-setting  211-186 victory over the Western Conference in the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

That came in the first quarter, on a sequence that opened with Adebayo inbounding the ball off the back of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and then draining a 3-pointer on the other end. Adebayo then threw his arms up in the air to celebrate as he ran back on defense.

In games that actually count, Adebayo is 1 of 11 on 3-point attempts this season, with nine regular-season  3-pointers over his career.

Adebayo played 17 minutes, closing 1 of 2 from the field for three points, with two rebounds and two assists.

As a perspective on Adebayo largely being shuffled out of the mix, at the end of the third period, Adebayo had his two shot attempts at a time East teammate Damian Lillard had 20. Lillard closed with 39 points on 14-of-26 shooting, named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Adebayo got the start with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid unable to participate due to the knee injury that also kept him out of the Heat’s Wednesday night victory in Philadelphia, their final game before this current eight-day All-Star break.

Adebayo was selected as the replacement starter by Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who coached the East on Sunday night.

The game was so foreign to Adebayo’s defense-first approach that his Eastern Conference team led 104-89 at halftime, the most points ever in a half in an NBA All-Star Game. And the scoring and lack of competitiveness kept going from there.

Adebayo, the Heat’s lone All-Star, started for the East alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Lillard and Tyrese Halliburton. Starters for the All-Star Game were selected in a combined vote of fans, players and media. Reserves, which is how Adebayo made it, were selected by conference coaches.

Adebayo was making his third All-Star appearance since entering the league in 2017. He became the Heat’s first All-Star Game starter since Dwyane Wade in 2016. The other All-Star starters over the Heat’s 36 seasons have been LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning and Anthony Mason.