Kobe lights up Broadway with Madison Square Garden record 61pts

“It’s a blessing to do what you love and to have moments like this”. That's how Kobe Bryant described his historic performance. With perhaps the need to lift up his team following the news of Andrew Bynum's knee injury, which will sideline him 8 to 12 weeks, KB amazed the MSG crowd by scoring 61pts and leading L.A to a 126-117 win over the Knicks.

Kobe started the game by hitting his first three shots and was clearly in an attack mode. He scored 18pts in the first quarter and finished the half with 34pts - 2nd most by a player this season behind Melo's 36. He added 12 more in the 3rd and spent most of the 4th at the foul line, sanking one free throw after another.

Kobe's absolutely brilliant offensive performance was rewarded by chants of "MVP" and cheers from the MSG crowd as the reigning MVP left the game with 2 min remaining. Kobe was 19/31 from the floor and sank all 20 of his free throws. His 61pts in only 36 minutes are the most by any player at Madison Square Garden. He erased the 55pt output by Jordan in 1995 - the most by a knicks opponent until last night, and the 60pt game by Bernard King in 1984.

Bryant, who also finished with the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season, left to a loud ovation after the 24th 50-point game of his career. He recorded his fifth career 60-point game, the second most in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain's 32!

In Los Angeles' first game without Bynum, Gasol played at the center position while Odom makes his appearance as a starter. The Spaniard finished with 31pts & 14rbds; Odom scored only 6pts but recorded 14rbds 4 asts & 3blks.

But yesterday, the story was definitely Kobe' stunning performance. Single handedly, he torched the Knicks and provided Lakers fans something to cheer about after the bad news Bynum received just hours before the game.
Kobe made a statement and showed the league that with or without Bynum, you don't want to face the Lakers..you don't want to meet Kobe Bryant.