Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in an NBA game.  It was a record that people thought would never be eclipsed.  No one had ever came close to scoring 100 points, so why would anyone think the record could be challenged?  However one evening in Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant had a performance that certainly made people think twice about Wilt’s record.

It was on this day, January 22nd, in 2006, that Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in an NBA game.  He only had 26 points at half time, then went on to score an amazing 55 points in the second half.

The Lakers had trailed early in the game, but after Kobe’s domination of the second half, the Lakers won the game 122 – 104. The 81 points was of course the second most points ever scored in an NBA game.  The previous record for the 2nd most points ever in a game was also held by Wilt Chamberlain, who had once scored 78 points in a triple overtime game.