NBA: Kobe Bryant’s best games against every team

8. Kobe v. Jazz, November 30, 2006

52 points (19-26 FG), 4 rebounds

This game is remarkably similar to Kobe’s efficient performance against the SuperSonics, when at the end of this particular season he went 18-25 to secure a playoff spot. Like that performance, Kobe had double the point total (52) of his shot attempt total (26), establishing early on that the only way he could be stopped is through constant fouling.

Unlike the game against the SuperSonics, Kobe posted this mark in only three quarters. This included a third quarter where he posted 30 of the Lakers’ 42 points, and by the end of three Los Angeles was comfortably on top of the Jazz 95-73.

At this point in the young season, the Utah Jazz held the NBA’s best record at 13-3, but had struggled to defend against the wing. Milwaukee’s Michael Redd – at this time a poor man’s version of Ray Allen, both in terms of his Milwaukee location and his playing style – posted 57. Even then, the Jazz were able to endure and win 113-111.

The difference between the two games was efficiency. This was the most efficient 50-point game of Kobe Bryant’s career, as he shot 73% from the field – and finished with a True Shooting Percentage of 79.5%. He accomplished his 52-point mark in a little over 34 minutes. And importantly, he only recorded one turnover.

As a team, the Lakers shot an even 60% from the field, compared to 47% for the Jazz. The Bucks’ narrow loss came down to losing the shooting percentage 48%-53%. For a team that relied on him so much, when Kobe Bryant could be efficient, he could kill even the best teams.

Next: #7