Michael Jordan Washington Wizards stats

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Lakers advisor Phil Jackson saw many dazzling shows by jordan. Now he marvels at Kobe Bryant.

Bryant scored 55 points, the most within the NBA this year, since the
Los Angeles Lakers defeated Jordan while the Washington Wizards
108-94 Friday night.

"that has been an unbelievable demonstration, '' Jackson stated. "It came to a point in which there clearly was that curiosity element: Was he likely to hit 80? I am sure it had his mind.''

Bryant made everybody think about the possibilities as he scored 42 in the 1st half, breaking the group record for points in a 1 / 2 of 37, set by Elgin Baylor resistant to the ny Knicks on Nov. 15, 1960. Wilt Chamberlain keeps the record of 59 things, scored within the last half of his 100-point online game in 1962.

"Ordinarily, i'd try to get a grip on the offense, but today Phil gave me the green light offensively for tonight, '' Bryant said.

An admirer waved an indication that browse, "Goodbye Michael, Hello Kobe, '' which set the tone for Bryant. Their performance emerged in what probably had been their and Lakers' last game from the 40-year-old Jordan, who intends to retire after this season. Jackson had been Jordan's mentor in Chicago if the Bulls won six titles.

Asked if he felt he was driving the burn to Bryant, Jordan said, "He certainly features a share for the torch, and there is several various other dudes that carry it too.

"He was hot. We tried to hold him on the perimeter; we sought out on him and he was nonetheless hot. He held all of them in the game in the first half, '' included Jordan, that has 17 of his 23 points in the 1st half.

Frequently hailed once the "next jordan, '' a comparison he dislikes, the 24-year-old Bryant made nine shots consecutively and scored 23 successive l . a . points during a stretch of 5:42 that started later inside second one-fourth.

The 55 things had been one shy of Bryant's job well, in addition they
eclipsed the prior saturated in the league this season, 53 points by
Ny's Allan Houston in a 117-110 win over the Lakers on Feb.
16.

Bryant has scored 50 or even more things three times in 2010,
including 52 against Houston on Feb. 18.

He got 24 of his first-half points against Washington on 8-of-11
shooting from 3-point range, tying a league record for 3-pointers
in a half. Then moved cold from flooring into the second half,
making one of 10 shots, a 3-pointer, but he had been 10-of-12 from
the line after halftime.

Bryant, who went in closing seconds of this 3rd quarter after he committed his 4th foul, didn't get back until midway through the final one-fourth. He was surprised Jackson place him back the game.

"It shocked me. I was thinking I was done. I'm getting too old for Phil to surprise me, '' Bryant said with a grin.