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Defector

Giri Nathan

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 30: Bam Adebayo #13 and Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat look on at the end of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Kaseya Center on March 30, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Various Reports Dispute Where Bam Adebayo’s Fist Landed On Tyler Herro’s Face

Israel Daramola

LaMelo Ball Gets Let Off The Hook

Patrick Redford

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 is interviewed with teammates Chet Holmgren #7 and Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder after beating the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 18, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

Podcasts

Why The Thunder Have Been Cast As The NBA’s Villains, With Tyler Parker

David Roth

A kebab is prepared in the Elbis-Döner restaurant at Berliner Straße 2 in Wilmersdorf. It looks good as hell.

Kebab Juice On The Windowpane, With Rohan Nadkarni

Ray Ratto

Celtics' Bill Russell (rear) pins Warriors' Wilt Chamberlain's right arm, and holds him, during wild 4th quarter in which both sides fought on April 1, 1962.

There’s Always A Way To Deny The Undeniable

Albert Burneko

I Will Never Forgive Trae Young For Surpassing Kobe Bryant’s Career High For Assists In A Game Eight Times

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

The Wizards Deserve This Humiliation

Luis Paez-Pumar

Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat celebrates with teammates after a 150-129 win against the Washington Wizards at Kaseya Center on March 10, 2026 in Miami, Florida

Bam Adebayo Breaks The Concept Of Basketball, Scores 83 Points

Nikola Jovic #5 and Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat walk to the bench during the third quarter of game five of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at TD Garden on May 01, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Thank God That’s Over

Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat celebrates a three-point basket as he runs past Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter of game two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at TD Garden on April 24, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Heat Beat Boston At Its Own Game

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on during the game during Game Five of the 2023 NBA Finals on June 12, 2023 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

The Heat’s Fire Turned Back To Embers

Nikola Jokic defends against Bam Adebayo.

The Heat Forgot Which Direction The Rim Is In

Jayson Tatum blocks the shot of Bam Adebayo.

It’s Fine That The Celtics Are Kicking The Heat’s Butts Off. I’m Not Worried. It’s Fine!

Max Strus #31 of the Miami Heat grabs the rebound during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks on May 8, 2023 at Kaseya Center in Miami,

The Heat Sapped New York’s Will To Live One Rebound At A Time

Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball against Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat during the third quarter in Game One of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena on May 17, 2022 in Miami, Florida.

The Third Quarter Belonged To The Miami Heat’s Defense

Duncan Robinson #55 of the Miami Heat shots against Quentin Grimes #6 of the New York Knicks at FTX Arena on January 26, 2022 in Miami, Florida.

The Heat Are Peaking Now That Duncan Robinson Can Shoot Again

Kyle Lowry #7, Jimmy Butler #22, Duncan Robinson #55 of the Miami Heat look on against the Milwaukee Bucks at FTX Arena on October 21, 2021 in Miami, Florida.

The Heat’s Retooled Roster Is Doing Everything Right

Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after scoring in overtime against Duncan Robinson #55 of the Miami Heat during Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat at Fiserv Forum on May 22, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Ugly Playoff Basketball Games Are Uniquely Thrilling

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat reacts during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 27, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida

“Dade County, How Do You Like Bam, Man!”

Jayson Tatum of the Celtics contemplates failure.