By Josh Cohen

March 22, 2007: SCOREBOARD | PHOTO GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Kobe Bryant fired in 60 points to become the first player since Michael Jordan in 1987 to record 50-plus in three straight games. Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"Growing up I idolized all of them, from Wilt, to M.J. to Elgin. It's a tremendous honor to be in that same class with those guys and in the history books.''
-- Kobe Bryant, who became the fourth player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in three straight games Thursday night.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Thursday's top play: Kobe Bryant scores on a layup to give him 60 for the night.
  • Haier Play of the Day
  • Dunk of the Night
  • Assist of the Night
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  • Block of the Night
  • Steal of the Night
  • NBA TV Top 10
    • NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
    Chauncey Billups returned Thursday after missing the last two games with a groin injury and posted 13 points, six assists and six rebounds for Detroit, which dropped a 91-85 decision in Houston. As Billups continues to recover, Flip Murray, who tallied 10 points in 25 minutes, will likely still see some important minutes during the rest of this road trip.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Kobe Bryant, Lakers
    121-119 win at Grizzlies
    60 pts, 20-37 FG, 17-18 FT

    Ben Gordon, Bulls
    109-108 win vs. Nuggets
    25 pts, 10-23 FG, 3-3 FT

    Mike Miller, Grizzlies
    121-119 loss vs. Lakers
    33 pts, 11-16 FG, 6-11 3PT, 5-5 FT
    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    After a dismal four points Tuesday against the Timberwolves that ended a string of 55 straight double-digit performances, Amare Stoudemire bounced back with a monster 33-point, 21-rebound effort Thursday in the Suns' 118-100 triumph over the Kings. The two-time All-Star added three blocks, two steals and two assists for Phoenix, which has now won five straight over Sacramento.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    Eddy Curry, Knicks
    92-86 loss vs. Trail Blazers
    4-11 FG, 0-0 FT, 8 pts

    Richard Hamilton, Pistons
    91-85 loss at Rockets
    6-16 FG, 12 pts

    Steve Francis, Knicks
    92-86 loss vs. Trail Blazers
    3-10 FG, 9 pts
    KOBE JOINS MORE LEGENDARY COMPANY
    Since emerging as a household name early in his NBA career, Kobe Bryant has often been compared to one of the most celebrated athletes in American history, Michael Jordan. Bryant, a three-time NBA champion and nine-time All-Star, knows very well that to be 'Like Mike,' you must perform 'Like Mike.' The 11-year veteran erupted for 60 points Thursday to become the first player since Jordan in 1987 and just the fourth ever (Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor) to rack up 50-plus points in three straight games. His extraordinary performance not only put his name in the "legends only" book, but also propelled the Lakers to their third straight win with a 121-119 triumph over the Grizzlies. Kobe, who also tied Jordan with his fourth 60-plus performance of his career, shot 20-of-37 from the floor. Pau Gasol registered 35 points and 15 rebounds for Memphis, while Mike Miller scored 33. If Kobe can tally 50 or more in Friday's outing against the Hornets, he would become the first player since Chamberlain in 1962 to record 50-plus in four consecutive games.
    A FAST FORWARD FROM DECEMBER TO MARCH
    In December, when Yao Ming fractured his right tibia and an ailing lower back forced seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady to miss seven games, everyone wondered how good the Rockets would be when healthy. After Carmelo Anthony's suspension and Allen Iverson's arrival in Denver, everyone speculated how dynamic the two would be when united. Well, fast forward to March and perhaps we now have better ideas. Yao erupted for 27 points and McGrady added 20 and eight assists to guide the Rockets to a 91-85 triumph over the Pistons for their fifth straight win. For the Nuggets, Iverson racked up 31 points and buried a go-ahead floater with 13 seconds remaining before Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas scored on a putback layup with 0.2 ticks left to snap Denver’s season-high five-game winning streak. Anthony pitched in with 28 points for the Nuggets, while Ben Gordon had 25 and Luol Deng recorded 22 and 14 rebounds for the Bulls.
    ROOKIE WATCH
    With leading scorer and rebounder Zach Randolph out on bereavement leave for the second straight game, one may have thought the Trail Blazers date with the playoff-hopeful Knicks would have ended in a nightmare rather than a fun memory. But Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge had much different thoughts. Roy, arguably this season's Rookie of the Year, racked up 24 points and Aldridge flushed home a two-handed slam late in the fourth quarter to ice Portland's 92-86 triumph in New York.
    SIXTH MAN OF THE NIGHT
    With Jamal Crawford out for the rest of the season (stress fractured right ankle) and Quentin Richardson day-to-day (sore lower back), Nate Robinson figured his time to erupt was now. The Seattle native posted a season-best 31 points and added a career-high eight 3-pointers for the Knicks, who were unable to help their playoff chances with a 92-86 defeat to the Blazers. David Lee returned after missing 11 games with a right leg bone bruise to grab five rebounds.
    COOL/CLUTCH PERFORMANCE
    While Kobe Bryant was recording more history, Lamar Odom was registering his own success. Odom, who is still recovering from a knee injury that has plagued him all season long, took advantage of every opportunity he got by pouring in 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting and added 15 rebounds and four assists in the Lakers' 121-119 win over the Grizzlies. Luke Walton, who recently returned after missing 22 games with a sprained ankle, chipped in with 11 points.