Kobe Bryant outscores the Mavericks team through three quarters

December 22, 2005
Staples Center
Los Angeles, CA

DAL (18-7) - 90 pts
LAL (14-11) - 112 pts

In dominating fashion, Kobe Bryant scored 62 points through three quarters, sitting out the fourth quarter with the game's outcome not in doubt. Bryant scored 15 points in the first period, 17 in the second quarter, and a franchise-record 30 points in the third. At the end of that period, the Lakers had a 95-61 lead.

The previous Lakers team record for points in a quarter was 24, held by Bryant, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor -- two Hall of Famers. The league record for points in a quarter is 33 by smooth San Antonio Spur legend George "Iceman" Gervin in 1978. Denver's David Thompson scored 32 in a quarter the same season. Wilt Chamberlain tallied 31 in a quarter for Philadelphia in 1962, when he established the single-game NBA record of 100 points.

At the time, Bryant's 62 points represented the sixth-highest total in team history and the most since Chamberlain scored 66 against Phoenix in 1969. Kobe, boasting a 31.3-point average, shot 18-31, going 4-of-10 from 3-point range, and made 22 of 25 foul shots in just 33 minutes of floor time. The 30-point explosion in the third quarter allowed the Lakers to outpace the Mavs 42-17 to bust the game open.

The capacity crowd of almost 19,000 called for Bryant to return to the game in the fourth quarter, but with an huge lead coach Phil Jackson didn't oblige. The total was, at that time, the highest in Staples Center history, passing the 61 points ex-Laker Shaquille O'Neal scored against the Los Angeles Clippers in 2000.

Mavericks coach Avery Johnson likened Bryant's performance to being "in the gym by himself." Lakers center Chris Mihm said, in awe of Bryant, that he was "scoring at will." Jackson, who previously coached the great Michael Jordan said that he had seen a few 60-point ballgames in his time, but none had been done by the third quarter.

Dallas lost for only the second time in 10 games, with the other loss also coming to the Lakers, 109-106, on Dec. 12 in Dallas, with Bryant scoring 43 points. Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead his team, and like Bryant, he also did not play in the fourth quarter. Point guard Devin Harris chipped in with 18 points for Dallas before fouling out with three minutes left in the game. Former Laker Rick Fox provided an extensive in-game commentary.

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