Kobe outscores the Dallas Mavericks, 62-61, through three quarters

December 22, 2005
Staples Center
Los Angeles, CA

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

In a dominating performance, Kobe Bryant scored 62 points in three quarters, before sitting out the fourth quarter. He had 15 points in the first period, 17 in the second, and a franchise-record 30 in the third, when the Lakers enjoyed a 95-61 lead.

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

At the time, Bryant's 62 points was the sixth-highest in team history and the most since Chamberlain scored 66 at Phoenix in 1969. He, sporting a 31.3-point average, shot 18-31, including 4-of-10 from 3-point range, and made 22 of 25 foul shots in only 33 minutes of floor time. The 30-point explosion in the third quarter by Bryan allowed the Lakers to outscore the Mavs 42-17 to break the game open.

The capacity crowd of nearly 19,000 began calling for Kobe to return to the game in the fourth quarter, but with an insurmountable coach Phil Jackson saw no need to do so. The total was, at the time, the highest in Staples Center history, passing the 61 points ex-teammate Shaquille O'Neal scored against the Clippers in 2000.

Opposing coach Avery Johnson said likened Bryant's performance to being "in the gym by himself, working on all of his moves." Lakers teammate Chris Mihm, in awe, said of Bryant that he was "scoring at will." Jackson, who previously coached Michael Jordan said: "I've seen a few 60-point ballgames in my time, but none of them had been done by the third quarter."

The Mavs lost for only the second time in 10 games, with the other defeat also coming to the Lakers, 109-106, on December 12 in Dallas, with Bryant scoring 43 points. Star Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead his team, and like Bryant, he did not play in the fourth quarter. Point guard Devin Harris also scored 18 for Dallas before fouling out with three minutes to play. The game featured extensive in-game commentary by former Laker Rick Fox.

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