April 10, 2013
34 years, 230 days
Kobe Bryant didn’t sit for one second. Instead he tormented Portland in every possible way, leading the Lakers to a 113-106 victory, which earned him “MVP!” chants on the road.
Bryant — who had promised a playoff berth two months earlier — did it all for Los Angles, dropping 47 points while collecting eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and four blocks.
“What he is doing is phenomenal,” head coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He’s determined to get us in the playoffs. That’s what happens when you open your mouth and guarantee that we’ll get in the playoffs.”
The Trail Blazers were smoking from the start, as they scored 41 in the first quarter for an eight-point lead.
But the Lakers eventually work their way back behind Bryant, who tallied 11 points in both of the middle quarters.
Pau Gasol scored six straight for the Lakers late in the game to steal a 102-100 lead. From there, Bryant took over, hitting a pair of free throws and a jumper for a six-point edge with four minutes left.
Led by Bryant, the Lakers shot 58.9 percent from the field, while Gasol (23 points, seven rebounds, nine assists) and Dwight Howard (20 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks) both had big nights.
Rookie Damian Lillard did all he could for Portland, scoring 38 points with nine assists and three steals, but his team nonetheless dropped its ninth straight game.
Kobe performances on this day in history: