The AP reports: Kobe Bryant broke the current arena record with 61 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers looked plenty potent without Bynum in a 126-117 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night… Bryant teased and pleased a sold-out crowd that took turns booing him and saluting him with “MVP!” chants during an electrifying performance. He passed Michael Jordan’s opponent record of 55 points at the present building, known as “Garden IV,” when he hit three free throws with 3:56 remaining, then bettered Bernard King’s mark of 60, set on Christmas Day 1984, with two more foul shots with 2:33 to play… Pau Gasol added 31 points and 14 rebounds in the Lakers’ first game since losing Bynum, their starting center, for eight to 12 weeks with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
Day: February 3, 2009
Wade scores 32, Heat beat Clippers 119-95
The AP reports: Dwyane Wade had 32 points and nine assists, Michael Beasley added 18 points and Miami scored its most points in a home game since March 14, 2006, on the way to snapping a two-game skid. Mario Chalmers scored 15 points, Udonis Haslem added 13 and Shawn Marion— in his first game back after missing five straight with a strained left groin— finished with 11 points and seven rebounds for the Heat, who improved to 15-3 when scoring more than 100 points this season… Zach Randolph, back after missing 19 games with a sore left knee, scored 21 points for the Clippers, who’ve lost six straight and 20 of 22. Marcus Camby and Eric Gordon each added 12 for the Clippers, who had beaten Miami by a single point in each of their last two meetings.
Mayo scores 33, Grizzlies beat Wizards 113-97
The AP reports: Memphis Grizzlies rookie O.J. Mayo had done more scoring than losing at every level of play until he reached the NBA. On Monday night, he used his ability to score to help the Grizzlies end a 12-game losing skid, matching his career high with 33 points in a 113-97 win over the Washington Wizards… Rudy Gay scored 23 and Marc Gasol added 22 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis, which ended the team’s longest drought since dropping 13 in a row to start the 2002-03 season. The Grizzlies had not won since beating Dallas 102-82 Jan. 4… Antawn Jamison had 29 points and 13 rebounds and Caron Butler scored 21 for Washington, which failed to record its second two-game winning streak of the season.
Nowitzki scores 29, Mavericks beat Magic 105-95
The AP reports: The Dallas Mavericks are slowly creeping back up the Western Conference standings. Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and six rebounds, Jason Terry had 23 points and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Orlando Magic 105-95 Monday night for their third straight win… Josh Howard and Jason Kidd added 13 apiece for the Mavericks, who held Orlando to 3-for-20 shooting from 3-point range. Dwight Howard had 35 points and 11 rebounds, and Hedo Turkoglu scored 18 as the Magic ended their three-game winning streak. But that wasn’t the worst news of the night for Orlando.