Los Angeles ? Kobe Bryant was at his incredible best Tuesday night, scoring a career-high 62 points in just three quarters to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over the Dallas Mavericks, 112-90.

The 27-year-old Bryant, who brought a 31.3-point average into the game, shot 18-of-31, including 4-of-10 from three-point range, and made 22 of 25 foul shots while playing only 33 minutes.

Bryant scored 15 points in the first quarter, 17 in the second, and a franchise-record 30 in the third before taking a seat for good with the Lakers leading, 95-61. The previous Lakers record for points in a quarter was 24 shared by Bryant and Hall of Famers Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.

The NBA record for points in a quarter is 33 by George Gervin for San Antonio in 1978. Denver’s David Thompson scored 32 in a quarter that same season, and Wilt Chamberlain scored 31 in a quarter for Philadelphia in 1962, when he set the single-game NBA record with 100 points.

Baylor scored a franchise-record 71 points on Nov. 15, 1960, at New York. Bryant’s total is the sixth-highest in club history and the most for the Lakers since Chamberlain scored 66 on Feb. 9, 1969, at Phoenix.

Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant, center, draws a foul from Dallas' Josh Howard, right. Bryant scored 62 points in the Lakers' 112-90 victory Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

The capacity crowd of 18,997 began chanting, “We want Kobe! We want Kobe!” early in the final period, but with the Lakers holding an insurmountable lead, there was no need for coach Phil Jackson to put the 6-foot-6 standout back into the game.

Bryant matched his previous career high of 56 points by making two free throws with 1:02 left in the third quarter. He went on to score six more points in the period, capping his amazing night by making a long three-pointer with 4.4 seconds left.

As the period ended – after Los Angeles had outscored Dallas 42-17 – Bryant held a hand to his ear, and the volume increased even more. Bryant then called it a night.

Bryant became the first NBA player to reach 60 points since Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson scored 60 in a 112-99 victory over Orlando in February.

Suns 112, Sonics 83

Miami – Pat Riley didn’t want a homecoming party. Shaquille O’Neal gave him one anyway. O’Neal hit his first eight shots and finished with 28 points in only 24 minutes, and Miami beat Atlanta in Riley’s first home game since replacing Stan Van Gundy as coach.

Suns 112, Sonics 83

Phoenix – Shawn Marion scored 29 points to lead five Phoenix players in double figures, and the Suns rolled past Seattle. Eddie House, the Suns’ energizer and designated shooter off the bench, added 20 points on 9-for-13 shooting. Boris Diaw had 13 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Bucks 109, Spurs 107, OT

Milwaukee – Rookie Andrew Bogut made a fadeaway jumper as time expired to give Milwaukee an overtime victory over San Antonio. The No. 1 pick in the 2005 NBA draft also scored the tying basket with 14 seconds left in overtime and finished with 19 points.

Bobcats 105, Bulls 92

Chicago – Brevin Knight shook off a bruised right forearm and finished with 20 points and 10 assists, and Charlotte beat Chicago. Raymond Felton scored 21 points to go with six assists as the Bobcats (8-18) won for the third time in four games and beat the Bulls for the first time.

Cavaliers 110, Jazz 85

Cleveland – LeBron James scored 25 points and took an early seat on the bench after Cleveland used a flurry of three-pointers in the third quarter to rout Utah.

Pistons 93, Blazers 89

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Richard Hamilton scored 23 points, and Tayshaun Prince added 21 to lead Detroit over Portland. The Pistons improved to an NBA-best 20-3.

Nets 99, Clippers 85

East Rutherford, N.J. – Vince Carter scored 35 points and added nine assists and seven rebounds.