This Time, Bryant Scores 60 Points As Lakers Defeat Grizzlies

Mar 23, 01:30 AM

Current Headlines: MEMPHIS, Tenn. _ Kobe Bryant has cracked Wilt Chamberlain's monopoly again.

Bryant scored 60 points to lead the Lakers to a 121-119 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night, and Bryant's three-game total of 175 points is tied for 11th all time.

Chamberlain held the top 16 three-game scoring totals in NBA history, but Bryant has made his way in there with consecutive games of 65, 50 and 60 points.

"I just feel like guys are finding me," said Bryant, whose 81-point game last season topped anything anyone but Chamberlain has scored. "It's not like I'm taking difficult shots outside of a couple of them, but I'm already in rhythm by the time I take those, so I feel pretty good.

"But to get in rhythm, I have to get great picks, great looks, great passes, and you can't do that without the help of your teammates - particularly because they're sending double- or triple-teams."

There's no doubt that Bryant has mastered the triangle offense, but he can show that mastery only when his teammates run it well, too. The return of top aide Lamar Odom (20 points, 15 rebounds) from injury has opened things up for Bryant, who actually sat back while Odom and Luke Walton scored the Lakers' first 11 points Thursday night against a Memphis zone that was committed to double-teaming Bryant.

But the Grizzlies have the NBA's worst field-goal defense, so Bryant eventually would have room for his highest scoring game away from Staples Center, topping his 58-point game in double overtime at Charlotte on Dec. 29.

The Lakers have won the past three games - not without some difficulty - after a seven-game losing streak that was the longest for Bryant and Coach Phil Jackson as Lakers.

"All these games are so important, so if you know him, it's not surprising," Odom said of Bryant. "His will to win is so incredible."

Said Memphis' Mike Miller, one of four Grizzlies to guard Bryant: "He's probably the best player in the league. There's not much you can do when he's going like that."

The Lakers barely played enough defense to win, allowing Memphis to shoot 55 percent from the field and surrendering monster games to Pau Gasol (33 points, 15 rebounds) and Miller (33 points, seven assists).

But monster games are not quite historic games, and Bryant's triple crowning gave the NBA its first three consecutive 50-point games since Michael Jordan in 1987.

"It's special, because it's coming out of three straight wins," said Bryant, who has shot 54 percent from the field in the three games. "This is a stretch where we really need to make up some ground and get some rhythm back on this trip. I'm doing my part."

ANOTHER INCIDENT?

Bryant was called for an offensive foul with 10.3 seconds left for an extended arm that knocked down Miller. Bryant and Jackson argued vehemently with referee Bob Delaney to the point that Delaney asked Bryant: "Are you done?"

Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis approached the Lakers TV crew courtside to ask Stu Lantz if he had seen a replay. Bryant has been suspended twice this season and also was issued a retroactive flagrant foul for extending his arm on offense.

"Oh, my God, he flopped," Bryant said. "He knows he flopped. If he said he didn't flop, he's a liar."

Asked if he was concerned about the play, Jackson said: "Not at all. The guy just ran in and fell down just to draw the foul. I don't think he (Bryant) moved the arm at all."

EVANS OUT

Maurice Evans played through a bruised right knee when the Lakers were shorthanded earlier this month. Evans is now taking time off in hopes of healing the bruise behind the knee cap that is producing so much fluid that he can barely bend the knee.

"I'm looking ahead to the real thing that really matters," Evans said, meaning the postseason.

Jackson said Vladimir Radmanovic (separated right shoulder) is about two weeks away from returning to action, though it's iffy how effective he will be given that his shooting shoulder was injured.

"He's going to have to relearn his shooting a little bit, and I don't know if that's going to make him a better player or not - or if he's even going to be able to play," Jackson said.

Radmanovic has learned the triangle offense by now, Jackson said, and should be much more productive next season.

"He'd better," Jackson said. "When you've got a guy making that kind of money, you want him to be successful."

Although Kwame Brown was held out of full-court practices all week because of his troublesome left ankle and often limped during the game, he made two big defensive plays down the stretch. He stole the ball from Gasol to set up a Bryant layup with 1:42 left and blocked a Dahntay Jones shot with 27.9 seconds left.

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