Category: Los Angeles Lakers Blog

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Kobe Bryant 61 points

Kobe Bryant scored 61 points in Madison Square Garden Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 126-117.

I was there to witness what was the most fun performance I ever remember seeing in person at an NBA game.

It was magical. And what made it even more awesome was the amount of Laker fans in NY for the game. Chants of MVP erupted repeatedly all throughout the game. And Kobe’s 61 points were created in ways every young basketball player dreams of. He unleashed crazy, absurd  moves, and was tossing jumpers in the faces of any Knicks defender who came near him.

Kobe Bryant’s 61 points in MSG is an instant hoops classic.

Below is a video of every shot Kobe made to score his 61 points. Watch and enjoy:

Read fan reaction to Kobe Bryant’s 61-point game in MSG and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Bryant scores 61, Lakers beat Knicks 126-117

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.

Andrew Bynum out 8-12 weeks

Results of an MRI on Andrew Bynum’s right knee showed a tear of the medial collateral ligament, it was announced today.

Bynum, who suffered the injury early in the first quarter of Saturday’s victory over Memphis after having scored seven of the Lakers’ first 13 points, will be out approximately 8-12 weeks.

The MRI was performed Sunday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and Bynum was examined this afternoon by Dr. David Altchek.

Bynum, who prior to the game against Memphis had averaged 26.2 points on 65.3 percent shooting, 13.8 rebounds and 3.20 blocked shots over his previous five games, ranks among league leaders in rebounds (19th/8.2), field goal percentage (8th/.558), blocked shots (6th /1.87) and double-doubles (17th/16).

Named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, January 19 through Sunday, January 25, Bynum is averaging 14.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.87 blocked shots in 46 games this season.

Bryant, Gasol help Lakers cruise past Grizzlies

The AP reports: Kobe Bryant scored 25 points, Gasol had 24 points and eight rebounds and the Lakers beat Memphis 115-98 on Saturday night, extending the Grizzlies’ losing streak to 12 games. The win was tempered by the uncertain status of Lakers center Andrew Bynum, who left the game in the first quarter with a sprained right knee. X-rays were negative and further tests will be done Sunday in New York where the Lakers face the Knicks the following day… Rudy Gay had 23 points, while O.J. Mayo scored 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field for the Grizzlies, losers of 20 of their last 22. Mike Conley finished with 13 points and seven assists, and Marc Gasol also scored 13 points.

Bynum, Lakers too big for T-wolves in 132-119 win

The AP reports: Andrew Bynum bulled his way inside to 27 points and 15 rebounds, providing the perfect complement to Kobe Bryant and his 30 points, and the Lakers started a six-game road trip with a 132-119 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night… Minnesota’s recent resurgence has been fueled by rebounding and reliable inside play, but L.A. was simply too deep and too tall. Al Jefferson finished with 34 points and 13 rebounds, but Bynum proved to be just a bit stronger inside. The Lakers have another 7-footer, Pau Gasol, who backed up his All-Star selection with 21 points and nine rebounds… Randy Foye scored 27 points for the Wolves, who rallied from a 20-point hole with an 18-7 run in the fourth quarter but couldn’t get any closer.

Diaw, Brown lead Bobcats past Lakers 117-110

The AP reports: Boris Diaw had 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, reserve Shannon Brown scored five of his 14 points in the second overtime, and the Bobcats continued their surprising recent domination of the Lakers by beating them 117-110 on Tuesday night… Gerald Wallace scored 15 points before leaving with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter after a flagrant foul by Andrew Bynum knocked him to the floor… Raymond Felton had 22 points, a career-high 11 rebounds and nine assists, Emeka Okafor had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Raja Bell added 17 points for the Bobcats. Bryant had eight rebounds and five assists to go with his 38 points. Bynum added 24 points and 14 rebounds and Derek Fisher scored 14 for the Lakers (35-9), who lost for just the fourth time in 27 home games.

Lakers breeze to 99-85 victory over Spurs

The AP reports: Kobe Bryant scored 22 points before sitting out the fourth quarter, Pau Gasol added 16 points, five rebounds and four assists, and the Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs 99-85 in a matchup of the Western Conference’s best teams that turned out to be a mismatch… Backup point guard Jordan Farmar returned after missing 18 games because of an injured left knee, and scored 14 points. Luke Walton played in his third game after missing nine with an injured foot, and Lamar Odom (knee) and Sasha Vujacic (back spasms) were also sidelined for brief periods… Tony Parker had 19 points and six assists and Tim Duncan added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Spurs (29-14), who lost for just the fourth time in 18 games. Neither played in the fourth quarter.

Lakers easily beat Wizards by 20

Thursday evening the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Washington Wizards and easily won on their home court, 117-97. With 23 points and 14 rebounds from center Andrew Bynum, the Lakers took a 6 point lead after the first quarter, scored 41 in the second quarter for a 72-47 halftime lead, and never looked back.

Los Angeles also got 18 points from Pau Gasol.

Kobe Bryant had a quiet evening, shooting just 4-of-11 for 11 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists.

Four Lakers reserves scored 10 or more points in the blowout win.

Antawn Jamison led the Wizards with 19 points. JaVale McGee came off the bench for 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 23 minutes. Caron Butler had just 12 points, plus six assists.

As a team, the Lakers dished an amazing 35 assists.

Official 2009 All-Star starters

Here are the official starters for the 2009 NBA All-Star game:

East: Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard

West: Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Amare Stoudemire, Tim Duncan, Yao Ming.

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