[0] KOBE BRYLLIANT CAREER-HIGH 56 POINTS FILLS GIANT VOID IN ROUT LAKERS 120, MEMPHIS 81.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

By the taut look on his face, by the taut tone in his voice, it seemed no one took Shaquille O'Neal's suspension harder than Kobe Bryant. And no one did more Monday night to lift up the Lakers and make them whole again.

O'Neal served the first night of a three-game suspension for taking a swing at Chicago's Brad Miller two nights earlier. It was nothing compared to the assault Bryant launched against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center.

Attacking, ferocious, determined and ultimately gleeful, Bryant scored a career-high 56 points in just three quarters of work, and the Lakers cruised to their biggest rout of the season, a 120-81 demolition of the Grizzlies.

All while their most dominating player served his NBA sentence at home.

``This game,'' Bryant said, ``was for him.''

Bryant played just 34 minutes, staking the Lakers to a 39-point lead before he went to the bench. The best statistical night of his career looked like this: 21 for 34 from the field, 3 of 6 from 3-point range, 11 for 12 from the foul line. Five rebounds, four assists.

And it sounded like this: ``KO-BE, KO-BE.''

There wasn't a clear indication Bryant planned such a performance. He was alternately restrained and aggressive during O'Neal's recent five-game stay on the injured list. But before tipoff, Bryant was angry and defiant at the news of O'Neal's suspension.

``Obviously I'm not happy about it. I wish it was less than three games,'' he said. ``We just kind of have to revert back to the way that we played well in some stretches without Shaquille. So we just go back to that way of executing things. Just do our best.''

That last part, it seems he meant literally.

Bryant's point total was the most by an NBA player this season and set a record for most points scored by a Grizzlies opponent.

He had 36 points by halftime, but he saved his best for the third quarter, personally outscoring the Grizzlies 20-14.

By the end of the third, the Lakers were up 98-59 - their biggest lead in any game this season - and Bryant had 56 points, just three fewer than the entire Memphis team.

It was not enough for a giddy, greedy Staples Center crowd of 18,997. Thrilled, bouncing, exhilarated, they booed lightly when coach Phil Jackson sat Bryant to open the fourth, sending in Mitch Richmond in his place.

Richmond, the former All-Star who has played scant minutes as a Laker, tried to acquire a little Kobe magic before taking the court - donning Bryant's wristbands, then rubbing some sweat off his legs.

It was sound superstition. Richmond promptly hit his first shot, a 19-foot jumper, then pointed at a smiling Bryant on the bench as he came back up the court.

It was just the second 50-point game of Bryant's career, the first accomplished solely in regulation play and the first to result in a victory. Bryant scored 51 points at Golden State last season, but he needed overtime to do it, and the Lakers lost.

Samaki Walker took O'Neal's spot at center, Robert Horry filled the vacancy in the lineup, getting his first start of the season, at power forward. That took care of the physical side of things.

But the task of replacing O'Neal in spirit, in emotion, in leadership and in points fell squarely to Bryant. It was a burden he embraced eagerly, with both arms wrapped firmly around the task at hand.

Bryant scored 18 points in the first quarter, another 18 in the second, and fell just 1 point shy of Elgin Baylor's franchise record for points in a half. Baylor had a 37-point half at New York on Nov. 15, 1960.

The suspension of O'Neal clearly served as a rallying point for all the Lakers, who believe he has absorbed too much punishment from intentional fouls over the years and was justified in his reaction against the Bulls.

``I think it's something we can use to our advantage,'' Bryant said. ``We can use it as motivation to go out there and really compete.''

DISTINGUISHED COMPANY

Kobe Bryant's 56 points equaled No. 10 on the Lakers' all-time single-game list. His previous high was 51 last year. His 36 points at halftime were one shy of Elgin Baylor's record for one half.

Name Pts. Opp. Year

1. Elgin Baylor 71 at N.Y. 1960

2.Wilt Chamberlain 66 at Pho. 1969

3. Baylor 64 vs. Bos. 1959

4. Baylor 63 at Phil. 1961

Jerry West 63 vs. N.Y. 1962

6. Shaquille O'Neal 61 at Clip. 2000

George Mikan 61 vs. Roch. 1952

8. Chamberlain 60 vs. Cin. 1969

9. Baylor 57 at Det. 1961

10. Baylor 56 vs. Syr. 1961

Kobe Bryant 56 vs. Mem. 2002

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) Kobe Bryant dunks in the first half on his way to a career-high 56 points on Monday.

(2) Samaki Walker, filling in for Shaquille O'Neal at center, blocks a shot by Memphis' Stromile Swift.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) DISTINGUISHED COMPANY (see text)

(2) GAME RECAP