61 Points for Kobe Eases Pain Over Bynum’s Injury

Last night at Madison Square Garden Kobe Bryant set a scoring record in a 126-117 win over the New York Knicks, making up for the bad news that the Lakers received about Andrew Bynum’s status just hours earlier. Bynum was injured when Bryant crashed into him after an off-balance drive Saturday at Memphis. The results from Bynum’s MRI exam revealed that he will miss an estimated 8-12 weeks due to a torn knee ligament and Bryant’s high scoring was just what the Lakers needed. Kobe surpassed the 60 points scored by the Knicks’ Bernard King in 1984, setting a record for points in a game at Madison Square Garden.

After making 19 of 31 shots, all 20 of his free throws and making three assists for the Lakers, Bryant received a standing ovation, with the crowd chanting “M-V-P” with 1:48 to play. Byrant told the L.A.Times, “I think it’s a combination of things–[Bynum] going down, this kind of being a ‘hump’ game for us on this road trip, I felt like I needed to focus even more so than usual. On a lighter note, I’ve got to go review this documentary I’m doing with Spike Lee after the game and I didn’t feel like sitting next to him and hearing him talk trash about the Knicks. That was added incentive as well, seriously.” Bynum will fly back to L.A. today and rest for the next seven to 10 days before beginning rehabilitation on his knee. Surgery is not required but if the proposed timetable is correct Bynum will miss at least 27 of the final 36 regular-season games and may not return until the first round of playoffs.

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Posted in General on February 3, 2009

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