Kobe goes off

Last night Kobe Bryant helped the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the league’s best team, the Utah Jazz, by scoring 30-points, making all nine of his field goal attempts and each of his 10 free throws. The Lakers defeated the Jazz 132-102.

Bryant, the league’s ninth leading scoring averaging 26.2 points per game was phenomenal with his perfect third quarter. Oh, I apologize. Did I forget to mention that Bryant scored the 30 in the third quarter? Tying a franchise record with scoring in one quarter, Bryant finished with 52-points on 19-of-26 shooting from the field and 12-of-15 from the charity stripe. Just like last season when he scored 62 points against the Dallas Mavericks, he didn’t score in the final stanza.

An unconscious Bryant didn’t force any bad shot. In a groove, and aggressively and continuously attacking every player that tried to guard him, Bryant took excellent shots. It felt like I was playing Playstation, Bryant said of his performance.

“I felt great. I felt explosive,” Bryant said in his post-game interview.

***Bryant flushes on Andrei ***

Signs of his explosiveness were evident at the close of the first half as No. 24 rose above Andrei Kirilenko and flushed it in his face, as Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer refused to challenge the dunk they saw coming. At the start of the third quarter, Bryant victimized the Jazz once again with a vicious dunk. This time Mehmet Okur was the victim, while Boozer once again, and Kirilenko chose not to get jacked.

The Jazz (13-4) were playing the second night of back-to-back games. They defeated the San Antonio Spurs 83-75, in an exhausting game, the night before.

Boozer, who should certainly earned a All-Star birth if he continues his play, finished with 26-points, seven rebounds and five assist.

In addition to Bryant’s great play, the Lakers (10-5) received production from Lamar Odom, who finished with 14-points and 11 rebounds, Maurice Evans with 17-points and excellent energy from second year player Ronnie Turiaf.

The 52-point outburst by Bryant was the 12th time that he has topped the 50-point plateau. Bryant was just four points shy of breaking a league record of scoring in one quarter. In 1978, George “Iceman” Gervin scored 33-points in one quarter against the then, New Orleans Jazz.