NBA stat review denies Adebayo rare 20-rebound triple-double

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 28: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat goes up for a shot while Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the second quarter at Target Center on October 28, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Heat 106-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
David Berding/Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELES, United States -- Bam Adebayo's celebration of Miami's first 20-rebound triple-double turned out to be premature after an NBA statistical review took away one of the rebounds he had been credited with in Monday's 108-107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

"My first reaction was 'That's a buzzkill,'" Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Wednesday before the Heat's game against the Grizzlies in Memphis. "Come on! He was doing a big-muscle workout on the glass. Let it go.

"Was it a tip, or whatever? That's 20 rebounds in my book."

On the play in question, Adebayo blocked a shot and the ball ultimately landed with teammate Duncan Robinson, who was belatedly credited with the rebound.

"It's whatever," Adebayo said. "I've seen a lot of dudes get their stats padded and nobody bats an eye. But it's all good.

"I'll do it again."

Adebayo still finished with a triple-double, but didn't join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Chris Walker, DeMarcus Cousins and Nikola Jokic as the only NBA players with 20-rebound triple-doubles.

The league reviews all statistics during and after games, sometimes tweaking numbers when it determines that, for instance, a shot initially credited as a three-pointer was actually worth two.

"I'm not mad at that," Adebayo said. "It's part of basketball. I've just got to make sure I get my 20th rebound next time."

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