Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 52 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 132-102 rout of the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.
He made all nine shots from the floor and was 10-for-10 at the foul line in his highest-scoring game since an 81-point outburst against Toronto on Jan. 22 last season. He had 30 points in the third quarter, tying his own team record set during a 62-point effort against Dallas on Dec. 20.
Bryant, who topped the 50-point plateau for the 12th time in his career, made 11 shots in a row beginning just before halftime and extending through the third quarter. He finally missed when he drove and looped a shot that bounced off the back of the rim with 7:44 left in the game, shortly after he had returned to the floor with the Lakers up by 20.
Jackson said Bryant, who led the league in scoring with a 35.4 average last season, looks as if he’s almost fully back in form.
Bryant finished 19-of-26 from the floor and 12-of-15 from the line.
He missed the first two games this season as he worked his way back from the surgery, and was averaging 24.1 points going in against Utah.
Led by Carlos Boozer’s 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Utah lost for the third time in the last four games after starting the season 12-1. Deron Williams had 13 points and nine assists for the Jazz, whose 13-4 record remains the league’s best.
Lamar Odom had 14 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers, and reserve Maurice Evans added 17 points.
Bryant’s third-quarter outburst had the fans chanting “MVP!” and gave the Lakers clear command with a 95-73 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. His 30 points were three off the NBA record for a quarter set by San Antonio’s George Gervin in 1978.
Los Angeles outscored Utah 24-14 in the quarter and was up 53-41 by halftime. Bryant scored 12 second-quarter points.
