Big NBA Night: Kobe goes out a winner with 60 points; Golden State sets single-season record
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in the third quarter against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant went out absolutely firing in his final game before retirement, giving the Los Angeles Lakers one more dazzling display of offense to close out his 20-year career.
And he went out a winner.
Scoring 60 points — on 50 shots — Bryant's career came to a close Wednesday night with the Lakers beating the Utah Jazz 101-96. Bryant hugged former teammate Shaquille O'Neal in the final seconds and scored 23 points in the final quarter.
It was a storybook finish, the sixth 60-point game of his career. It also was the most shots taken by anyone in an NBA game in the last 30 seasons, according to STATS.
Bryant checked out with 4.1 seconds left, serenaded by "Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!" chants. He retires as the NBA's No. 3 all-time scorer and won five championships. No one in NBA history ever scored more points in his last game.
Meanwhile, the best single-season record in NBA history belongs to Golden State. The most prolific long-range shooting year in the history of the game has been turned in by Stephen Curry.
And now, the Warriors can turn their attention toward back-to-back championships.
The Warriors won their record 73rd game of the season Wednesday night, getting 46 points from Curry and beating the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104. Golden State's 73-9 regular-season mark tops the previous best of 72-10 set by the Chicago Bulls in 1995-96.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr played for that Bulls team, and now has taken Golden State past that mark. "I never thought anyone would break it," Kerr said.
Curry made 10 3-pointers, giving him 402 for the season — 116 more than what was the NBA record he established a year ago.