Lakers: Kobe Bryant’s Top 5 Moments Against the Suns

5. Kobe Drops 50 in Game 6

The 2005-06 season saw Kobe score at a torrid pace, putting up over 35 points per game and becoming only the fourth player in league history to hit that mark. This was in large part due to the fact that the rest of the roster was, shall we say, below average. The lineup featured players like Smush Parker and Kwame Brown playing prominent roles, which left Bryant to do much of the heavy lifting.

Despite this, the Lakers grabbed a No. 7 seed in the West, facing the No. 2 seeded “7 Seconds or Less” Suns in first round of the playoffs. Although they were huge underdogs, the Purple and Gold stormed out to a 3-1 series lead (more on this later) led by Kobe’s facilitating. Yet Phoenix came back with a big win in Game 5 and Los Angeles was feeling the pressure. That would be when Kobe erupted for 50 points, eight boards, and five assists on 20-35 shooting in the pivotal Game 6.

A Tim Thomas heave saved Phoenix at the end of regulation, and the game went to overtime where Kobe went on to score 12 of the Lakers’ 13 points. Unfortunately his heroics were not enough as the Suns would go on to win the game, 126-118. Despite the fact that Los Angeles would go on to lose the series, the Mamba put on an unforgettable show when the team needed it most.

Next: No. 4 No Charge