Jan. 30, 2001
22 years, 160 days
With Shaquille O’Neal out for the second straight game, Kobe Bryant shouldered the Lakers’ offensive load by providing 47 points in 41 minutes.
He poured in 14 points in the third quarter to hand Los Angeles a 19-point lead by the end of the period. But Bryant wasn’t finished, as he added a dozen more in the fourth to key L.A.’s 102-96 win over Cleveland.
Bryant shot 12-of-26 from the field, but Cleveland simply couldn’t keep him off the free throw line, where he went a career-best 23-of-26.
Only nine players have made that many foul shots in one game since, including Bryant again.
Meanwhile, Horace Grant added 19 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, as the Lakers shrugged off a 25-point game from Andre Miller.
Kobe performances on this day in history: