But the night had begun modestly for 27-year-old all-star Kobe Bryant, who scored 15 points in the opening quarter and added another 17 in the second before he exploded with a franchise record of 30 in the third quarter behind a dazzling display of shot-making.
Toward the end of the third, to the chants of "Ko-be, Ko-be," he made a three-point shot from the right side with 4.4 seconds left to give him one more point than the Dallas Mavericks.
His teammates came out to meet Kobe Bryant on the court and Los Angeles Laker fans stood in appreciation and awe. Coach Phil Jackson smiled and said:
"A 30-point third quarter, there's never been anything like that that I've seen."
And Phil Jackson added, "That was unique in itself."
Kobe Bryant's third quarter was the fourth-best individual effort in NBA history. George Gervin had 33 points in a quarter in 1978.
Kobe Bryant took the Los Angeles Lakers to a spectacular 112-90 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday at the Staples Center, New York. It was a record-setting highlight of Kobe Bryant's career.
