Kobe Bryant starts fast in final career game

LOS ANGELES — The start of Kobe Bryant’s final NBA game was a wild ride, just like you’d expect and just like it should be.

Bryant scored 15 points in the opening quarter against the Utah Jazz, shooting 5-of-13 as the Los Angeles Lakers trailed the Utah Jazz 21-19 at the first interval.

For a while, it threatened to become embarrassing. Bryant missed with his first five attempts, ranging from muffed layups to woefully short jumpers, as the Lakers struggled to make any headway on an emotional night at the Staples Center.

Lakers legend Magic Johnson offers Kobe Bryant a fitting send-off

However, with 5:17 remaining in the quarter, Bryant suddenly caught fire. A defensive block warmed up the crowd, before Bryant surged down the other end of the floor for a floater that opened his scoring account.

All things Lakers: Latest Los Angeles Lakers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

He followed moments later with an effortlessly perfect jump shot, then a reverse layup seconds afterwards.

By then Bryant was in full flow and within a minute had uncorked a pair of long range efforts, then three free throws to take his tally to 15 points with 1:47 left in the quarter.

It was a one-man show as far as the spectators were concerned, but it was also an exhausting effort for a 37-year-old. Bryant sat from the start of the second quarter right up until nearly the midway stage of the second, by which time Utah had opened up a 33-29 lead.

Instead of goodbye, Kobe Bryant wants to say thank you

At that point, the locals had begun to get restless, with chants of "We Want Kobe!" springing up from large swathes of the stadium.

At 6:28 they got their wish, as Bryant checked back in.

GALLERY: KOBE BRYANT'S FINAL GAME