Bryant scores 61 points to lift Lakers over Knicks

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-02-03 16:13

NEW YORK - Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 61 points to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 126-117 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday.

The points total was the most by an NBA player this season and broke the previous Madison Square Garden record of 60 by former Knicks standout Bernard King.

Bryant also eclipsed Michael Jordan's record for the most points by an opponent in the Garden. Jordan finished with 55 points for the Chicago Bulls in a 1995 game.

"It's a blessing to do what you love and have moments like this," Bryant told reporters after registering his fifth 60-point game.

Playing to the chants of "MVP", the Lakers' All-Star guard hit 19 of 31 from the floor and all 20 free throws.

"These are nights when Kobe's on fire," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "He burns hot."

The Knicks noticed that from the beginning.

"First time he stepped on the court, he didn't say nothing," the Knicks' Nate Robinson told reporters. "He usually says 'Hi,' but today he was focused, in the zone. So we knew something was up."

Bryant, who scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, had 18 points in the first quarter, 34 by halftime and added 12 more in the third.

Bryant passed Jordan's mark by hitting three free throws with 3:56 to play. He topped 60 points with 2:33 remaining in the game.

The victory came against a backdrop of disappointment for the visitors, who announced a few hours before the game that center Andrew Bynum would be out for eight to 12 weeks with a torn ligament in his right knee.

Pau Gasol, who shifted to center for the Lakers (38-9), added 31 points and 14 rebounds, and reserve Trevor Ariza was the only other Laker in double figures with 13.

Al Harrington paced the Knicks (21-26) with 24 points, David Lee had 22 points and 12 rebounds and Wilson Chandler scored 20 points.