Lakers vs Kings 117-105 [Bryant 34pts&360 Slam+Gasol 31pts]

Added: Mar 5, 2008

From: 1EDmanLV

Duration: 1:49

Kobe Hits 21,000 Mark Kobe Bryant became the second youngest player in NBA history to score 21,000 career points after dropping 34 point on the Kings Tuesday. Player Yrs-Days Wilt Chamberlain 29-184 Kobe Bryant 29-194 Michael Jordan 30-34 Oscar Robertson 31-17 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 31-244 Karl Malone 31-254 Shaquille O'Neal 31-297 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Kobe Bryant has heard nothing but boos and derisive cowbells during his long, colorful history in Sacramento until Tuesday night, when he accomplished his latest stunning feat in California's capital. Somehow, Kobe coaxed a few "M-V-P!" chants from the stands in the city that hates to love him. Bryant scored 17 of his 34 points in an electric fourth-quarter performance, and Pau Gasol added 31 points in Los Angeles' 12th victory in 13 games, 117-105 over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. Bryant has been frequently brilliant in the playoffs at Arco Arena, yet he was once bizarrely unwilling to shoot in the first half of a regular-season game. He also persevered through an infamously strange bout of food poisoning from a room-service cheeseburger in the 2002 Western Conference finals. His late-game effort will go into that list of remarkable moments, and it will rank among his best. After an awful shooting start, Bryant scored all of his fourth-quarter points in the final 5:56, including 11 straight as the Lakers took their first lead in a mean-spirited game between longtime rivals. Bryant, newly christened the NBA's player of the month for February, led the way with a series of balletic moves, including a spinning layup and a 360-degree two-handed jam as Los Angeles pulled away. When the MVP chants rained down from the stands amid boos, Bryant wasn't sure he heard correctly. "It's better than hearing cowbells," Bryant said. "That was a trip. It felt great, though. I don't got to worry about nobody poisoning my burger now. I can eat in peace." Lamar Odom added 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who remained percentage points behind the San Antonio Spurs for the Western Conference lead by holding the Kings scoreless for 4:07 during the fourth as Bryant rained in jumpers and free throws. Los Angeles scored 14 straight points in the span. Kevin Martin and Ron Artest scored 23 points apiece for the Kings, who lost for the fifth time in six games despite 3½ solid quarters against their longtime nemeses. Brad Miller added 14 points and 12 rebounds while leading Sacramento's physical defensive plan against Bryant and the Lakers. Getting tough nearly worked -- but Kobe just got tougher. "He really stepped it up, really took it to the hole, really took it personally," said Gasol, who never won in Sacramento during all his years with Memphis. "We know what he's capable of doing. I know he can take over games. He's so gifted athletically and skill-wise. He's got a tremendous passion inside him. The way he attacked tonight, it was the kind of effort we need every night." 04.03.08

Channel: Sports

Tags: 360  3pt  angeles  artest  bryant  clutch  dunk  game  gasol  kings  lakers  los  martin  moves  nba  pass  play  sacramento  shot 

Rating: 5.00 (10 ratings)    Views: 11062' favoriteCount='7    Comments: 23

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