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Bryant's 50-Point Streak Hits 4 Games

Posted on: Saturday, 24 March 2007, 03:00 CDT

Kobe Bryant is still punishing his opponents - just not in ways that will get him in trouble with the league office. And he has two weak ones coming up, meaning the second-best scoring spree in NBA history could go on a little longer.

Bryant scored 50 points to lead Los Angeles to a 111-105 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night, making the Lakers star only the second player in NBA history with at least that many points in four consecutive games.

The Lakers now head home for a five-game homestand, starting with games against poor defensive teams in Golden State and Memphis - which surrendered 60 points to Bryant on Thursday. And the league's leading scorer plans to stay aggressive.

"I can sniff it out, then I continue to attack them," Bryant said. "When I feel like he's reached that breaking point, I go at him."

Following games of 65, 50 and 60 points, Bryant moved within three games of Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 50 or more in seven straight during the 1961-62 season. And it comes not long after Bryant collected two one-game suspensions and a flagrant foul for delivering shots to his opponents. Both Bryant and Lakers coach Phil Jackson said the criticisms of Bryant that followed have served as a motivator.

"The thing that was frustrating for me was people were talking about, `He's a dirty player,' which, for me, is pretty insulting," Bryant said. "To have people talking about something else besides that - it's a much better feeling."

In other games, it was: Indiana 95, Miami 70; Toronto 121, Denver 94; Philadelphia 106, Charlotte 97; Orlando 90, New Jersey 82; Dallas 109, Boston 95; Cleveland 90, New York 68; Portland 102, Atlanta 100 in overtime; San Antonio 90, Detroit 89; Seattle 85, Minnesota 82; the Los Angeles Clippers 104, Utah 72; and Golden State 135, Washington 128.

Los Angeles, which was slumping badly before winning all four games during Bryant's surge, will likely give Bryant plenty of chances to keep up his streak when it gets home.

"He's just been in such a good rhythm and he's such a good player that when he's feeling like that, it's kind of hard not to just keep going to him because it's amazing to watch and there's a good chance you're going to score," Lakers forward Luke Walton said.

Tyson Chandler had 22 points and 22 rebounds for New Orleans, which trailed nearly the entire second half. Chris Paul had 28 points and 12 assists for the Hornets, who were playing the last of six games scheduled in New Orleans this season before a full-time return to the rebuilding city over the summer.

Too bad for the Hornets it came against a seemingly unstoppable opponent.

"We knew Kobe was going to have one of those nights," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "He's just so good. He's such a competitor and he lives in the moment. This is the moment right now with a playoff-type atmosphere. We knew he was going to come out and play like that."

Spurs 90, Pistons 89

Tony Parker scored 22 points to lead San Antonio over Detroit, which has dropped its first two games on a three-game road trip.

Tim Duncan added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs, while Rasheed Wallace had 21 points and another technical foul for the Pistons.

Magic 90, Nets 82

Jameer Nelson scored 22 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, and Orlando beat visiting New Jersey in a matchup of teams fighting for the last two Eastern Conference playoff spots.

Vince Carter had 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Nets, who shot 34.5 percent for the game and 11-for-41 in the second half.

Cavaliers 90, Knicks 68

At Cleveland, LeBron James had 21 points and 10 assists as the Cavaliers won for the ninth time in 11 games to keep pressure on Detroit for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Eddy Curry scored 27 points with nine rebounds to pace New York, which lost for the fifth time in six games.

Raptors 121, Nuggets 94

At Toronto, Morris Peterson had 23 points, Jorge Garbajosa had a career-high 22 and the Raptors never trailed despite losing Chris Bosh to a sprained ankle in the third quarter.

Carmelo Anthony had a season-low 10 points for the Nuggets, who missed their first 15 shots. Anthony finished 3-for-15 from the field. Allen Iverson had 14 points on 3-for-12 shooting.

Pacers 95, Heat 70

At Indianapolis, Danny Granger scored 22 points, Mike Dunleavy added 20, and Indiana claimed its largest victory margin of the season in beating Miami.

Shaquille O'Neal was the only Miami player in double figures with 13 points. He played just 25 minutes due to foul trouble.

Mavericks 109, Celtics 95

Jason Terry scored 29 points, Josh Howard added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Dallas extended its winning streak to five. The Mavericks improved to 4-0 during their six-game road trip.

Warriors 135, Wizards 128

At Oakland, Calif., Baron Davis had 34 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds in the Warriors' seventh win in nine games.

Gilbert Arenas had 29 points and a season-high 13 assists against his former team.

Clippers 104, Jazz 72

Elton Brand had 20 points and 11 rebounds before resting most of the fourth quarter, and Los Angeles held Utah to its lowest point total of the season.

Corey Maggette added 19 points for the Clippers, who never trailed and led by as many as 35 while handing Utah its fifth straight road loss.

Trail Blazers 102, Hawks 100, OT

At Atlanta, LaMarcus Aldridge scored six of his 27 points in overtime and Portland overcame an early 15-point deficit in its third straight victory.

Salim Stoudamire came off the bench and kept the Hawks in it, finishing with 37 points. Josh Childress added 22 points and 12 rebounds.

SuperSonics 85, Timberwolves 82

At Seattle, Earl Watson sparked the SuperSonics off the bench with 14 points, and Chris Wilcox added 16 points and 12 rebounds.

76ers 106, Bobcats 97

At Philadelphia, Andre Miller scored 19 points to lead seven players in double figures for the 76ers, who played without leading scorer Andre Iguodala (strained lower back).

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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