NEW YORK: Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 61 points to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 126-117 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday.

The points total was the most by an NBA player this season and broke the previous Madison Square Garden record of 60 by former Knicks standout Bernard King.

Bryant also eclipsed Michael Jordan's record for the most points by an opponent in the Garden. Jordan finished with 55 points for the Chicago Bulls in a 1995 game.