NEW YORK, (Reuters):

KOBE BRYANT became only the second player in NBA history to score 50 or more points in four consecutive games in leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 111-105 road win over the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night.

The shooting guard connected on 16 of 29 field-goal attempts and made all 16 free throws to score exactly 50 points on the night and join Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to achieve the milestone.

Chamberlain scored 50 or more points in seven consecutive games with Philadelphia in 1961. He also reached or topped the 50-point plateau in five consecutive games with San Francisco the next season.

High-scoring streak

Bryant began his high-scoring streak with 65 points against Portland on March 16. He added 50 more against Minnesota on Sunday and scored 60 against Memphis on Thursday.

His total against the Hornets gave the Lakers guard 225 points in four games.

Bryant reached the 50-point mark against the Hornets on a 20-foot jumper with 5:13 remaining in the game that gave Los Angeles a 100-92 lead.

He has now recorded seven 50-plus games this season and 18 for his career.

Michael Jordan was the last player to score 50 or more points in three consecutive games, doing it for the Chicago Bulls in 1987.

Tyson Chandler led the Hornets with 22 points and 22 rebounds.