LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant took over — again.

Bryant became the first Lakers player with consecutive 50-point games in 44 seasons, following a 65-point game with 50 against Minnesota on Sunday night in Los Angeles' 109-102 victory over the Timberwolves.

"We talked about going to Kobe early in games and not waiting," coach Phil Jackson said. "He had been playing the team role, feeling the game out and waiting 'til the second half to get going. But there's just not enough time right now in the season to develop that."

Bryant became the first Lakers player with consecutive games of 50 or more points since December 1962, when Elgin Baylor did it in three straight games.

He scored 14 points in the first 8:12 to help Los Angeles build a 17-point lead.

"I'm just being more aggressive at both ends of the floor," he said. "At this point in the season, it's important that I stress the sense of urgency that we have to have, and the type of emotion and energy that you have to play with."

Only two other players have recorded back-to-back 50-point games in the last 10 years. Antawn Jamison did it in December 2000 against Seattle and the Lakers (51-51), and Allen Iverson did it in December 2004 against Milwaukee and Utah (54-51).

It was Bryant's 17th career 50-point game, including Game 6 of the Lakers' first-round playoff series against Phoenix last May. They lost that game 126-118 in overtime, but Los Angeles is 12-5 when he scores 50 or more.

The Lakers' two games prior to Bryant's spree were a 108-72 loss to Dallas — the Lakers most lopsided defeat at home since the franchise shifted from Minnesota to Los Angeles — and a 27-point drubbing at Denver. Last season's NBA scoring champ credits the return of Lamar Odom and Luke Walton from injuries for making these last two games possible.

"Luke and Lamar both make my life a lot easier when they're out there because they're so good at recognizing situations on the floor," Bryant said. "They're great passers, so teams can't just front me."