This Day in 2005: Bryant’s Late Surge Lifts Lakers Over SuperSonics
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Los Angeles — On Nov. 24, 2005, Kobe Bryant turned a quiet night into another entry in his long list of highlight performances, sparking the Los Angeles Lakers to a 108-96 comeback victory over the Seattle SuperSonics at Staples Center.
The guard managed just five points through the first 30 minutes, yet erupted for 29 in the final 18 minutes. Bryant’s burst flipped a 12-point deficit into a double-digit win, giving Los Angeles its eighth victory of the season.
His impact went beyond scoring. Assigned to Ray Allen, Bryant limited the All-Star to 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting while collecting two steals. Afterward, he told reporters the defensive stand mattered most: “The defense was more fun, more challenging. Scoring the ball is pretty much like breathing to me. Defense, I really take a lot of pride in.”
The outburst came during one of Bryant’s most productive seasons. He finished the 2005-06 campaign averaging 35.4 points per game, the highest mark of his career, while adjusting to life without longtime teammate Shaquille O’Neal. Aside from Lamar Odom, the roster offered few proven scorers, pushing Bryant to test the limits of his offensive game on a nightly basis.
The Thanksgiving-night rally provided another reminder of Bryant’s ability to overwhelm opponents in spurts, a theme that would define much of his 20-year tenure with the Lakers.
Source: Lakers Nation
