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Bryant erupts for 61 points as Lakers trounce Knicks
2009-02-02
NEW YORK (AFP) - Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant scored 61 points to set the all-time scoring record at the current Madison Square Garden as Los Angeles trounced the New York Knicks 126-117. It was the 24th 50-point game of his career, and surpassed Bernard King's 60-point performance on Christmas Day in 1984 at the storied Manhattan venue. "The building is special because it's the last one left," Bryant said. "We have the Boston Garden, which I never played in, the Forum and then there's this building. This is the last one that holds all the memories of all the great players." Michael Jordan previously held the scoring mark for an opponent at Madison Square Garden with 55 points in 1995 - a famous outburst dubbed the "double-nickel." Bryant, a student of basketball history, recalled that game. "I didn't know that was a record but I watched the game actually," he said. "Just oohing and ahhing and just marveling at the performance. I'm sure we all were." Bryant was 19-of-31 from the field and hit all 20 of his free throws. He also went 3-of-6 from three-point range. It was the NBA's season-high scoring performance but was 20 points shy of his own career-best effort, when he torched the Toronto Raptors for 81 - the second-highest scoring performance in NBA history - on January 22, 2006. The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player was hot from the start Monday, scoring 18 points in the first quarter. He had 34 points in the first half. But the fourth quarter was when Bryant really had the Garden buzzing as he nailed three free throws to give him 57 points and make it 119-100 with 3:56 left. The trio from the stripe forged the largest lead of the game. After making a tough jump shot off a reverse pivot, Bryant added two free throws with 2:31 left to cap his memorable night and provide perhaps the greatest performance at the current incarnation of Madison Square Garden, which opened in February 1968. Like Jordan before him, Bryant won over even Knicks fans. "This place is special because the fans, they'll boo you the whole game but they appreciate the game," he said. "It felt great to get that reaction from these fans because they love what you do, and it's a great performance and being able to celebrate that moment ... it felt great." He said he had added motivation from one famous Knicks fan - film director Spike Lee. "On a lighter note, I've got to go review this documentary I'm doing with Spike Lee after the game," Bryant said. "I didn't feel like sitting next to him and hearing him talk trash about the Knicks. "So that was added incentive as well." The Knicks will try to stop another NBA superstar on Wednesday, when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James. James, Bryant's rival in a race for the title of the league's best player, hit for 50 points here on March 5, 2008.
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