Madison Square Garden is one of the most iconic and well-known arenas in the world. Every player dreams of putting up historic numbers in front of the notoriously famous crowd. On January 2, 2009, Kobe put on a show and scored a Madison Square Garden record 61 points. Kobe has quite a history playing at Madison Square Garden as he averages 30 points on 47% shooting, both above his career averages.
Kobe outscored legends Michael Jordan and Bernard King to claim the record. Kobe’s record would go on to last for a little under five years. Posted below is the box score and video of Kobe’s historic night.
Carmelo Anthony and the struggling Knicks came into a must-win game against the Charlotte Bobcats. Carmelo had been shouldering the burden through the Knicks’ recent struggles and knew he had to step up his game. Nobody could have predicted what would come next. Carmelo opened the game with 20 first-quarter points on 8-9 shooting and the crowd could feel something special was brewing.
Carmelo would continue with his hot shooting in the second quarter and would finish the half with 37 points, including a half-court buzzer-beating shot at the end of the half. Kobe had finished the first half with 34 points in comparison.
Anthony came out in the second half on fire and made his first five shots. The game was well in hand and it had become obvious that Melo would start going for Kobe’s record. Melo finished the third quarter with 56 points and the Knicks were up by over 20 points.
It was no surprise as Carmelo checked in at the start of the fourth quarter with only five points to go to tie the record. Melo was fouled twice at the beginning of the 4th and made all four free throws, putting him just two points from the record. Carmelo broke the record with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter on a 9-foot baseline jump-shot. Posted below is the record-breaking shot.
Kobe and Carmelo are considered two of the greatest shooters in history and it is fitting that they are the only two active players to score 60 points in a game. The Lakers will be faced with the task of facing Carmelo after his record night on Sunday afternoon. With all the rumors surrounding Carmelo Anthony and the Lakers, the game should have extra flair.
He’s got it! @carmeloanthony sets new @nyknicks franchise record with 62 points! 23/35 FGAs (65.7% FG)! pic.twitter.com/S3DhC7Busn
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) January 25, 2014
A new MSG & @nyknicks record 62 points for @carmeloanthony! pic.twitter.com/nHCOQrOdgM
— NBA (@NBA) January 25, 2014
