Heat’s Bam Adebayo Made Easiest Garbage Time Steal as Time Expired in Loss to Nuggets

That’s five consecutive games of at least one steal for the star center.

Miami Heat star center Bam Adebayo recorded the easiest steal that basketball fans will ever see during garbage time in Wednesday night’s 100–88 home loss to the Denver Nuggets at the Kaseya Center.

With the Nuggets up 12 and the game well in hand with less than 10 seconds to go, Denver star Nikola Jokić dropped the ball and shook hands with Adebayo before embracing him with a hug. Jokić then walked over to Heat guard Terry Rozier to shake hands with him, leaving the basketball behind.

Adebayo picked the ball up with two seconds remaining, recording a steal in the stat sheet for him and a turnover on the stat sheet for Jokić. Adebayo then took a half-court heave, but was cognizant of the game clock to not take the low percentage shot before time expired in a blowout loss.

steal pic.twitter.com/4wHNCnTZmw

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 14, 2024

The late-game steal by Adebayo kept his streak alive of five consecutive games recording at least one steal.

Miami dropped to 35–30 on the season, and remains in the No. 8 slot in the Eastern Conference. Denver improved to 46–20, good for the West’s top seed.