| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
Bryant sets Lakers' record with 42 first-half points
Saturday March 29, 2003LOS ANGELES (AP) Playing against Michael Jordan for probably the final time, Kobe Bryant set a Los Angeles Lakers' record with 42 first-half points against the Washington Wizards on Friday night.
Bryant made nine shots in a row during a stretch beginning late in the opening quarter, and he finished the half 14-of-19 from the floor, including 8-of-11 from 3-point range.
Bryant broke the team record for points in a half of 37, set by Elgin Baylor against the New York Knicks on Nov. 15, 1960.
No other Lakers player scored more than five points in the first half against the Wizards, but Bryant's one-man show was good enough for a 59-48 halftime lead.
Jordan, who plans to retire after this season, scored 17 first-half points on 7-of-14 shooting.
Wilt Chamberlain set the NBA mark for points in a half with 59 in the second half of his record 100-point game on March 2, 1962, against the Knicks in Hershey, Pa.
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