Dec. 12, 2005
27 years, 111 days
When needed in the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant simply delivered.
Trailing by one with 34.9 seconds left, Bryant swished a contested fadeaway 3-pointer to put the Lakers up for good in their 109-106 victory in Dallas.
Just minutes before, Bryant, who finished with 43 points, hit a triple to tie the game up at 97 after L.A. had trailed for nearly the entire quarter.
“It’s hard not to shoot the ball when you can make shots from everywhere,” Lamar Odom told reporters after the game.
Indeed, Bryant fired at will, going 15-of-33 from the field and 10-of-12 at the foul line to counter 27 points and 15 rebounds from Dirk Nowitzki.
Bryant began the game a steaming 8-of-11 from the field. He dropped 27 points in the first half alone, while saving nine more for the fourth quarter.
Bryant also collected five rebounds and four steals, while Odom (15 points, 11 rebounds) helped the Lakers shoot 50.0 percent.
Though the Mavs hit 34 free throws and picked up 17 offensive rebounds, the Lakers managed to pull through in part by taking care of the ball with only eight turnovers.
Kobe performances on this day in history: