(My Sportsbook) - The Seattle SuperSonics were hoping to take advantage of an uninspired Los Angeles Lakers team on Wednesday. Instead, they ran into the best shooting performance of Kobe Bryant's career.

Bryant set a new NBA record by draining 12 three-pointers, propelling the Lakers to a 119-98 home win over Seattle. Bryant broke the previous record of 11 three-pointers, set by Dennis Scott of Orlando back on April 18, 1996, when the arc was closer to the basket.

Bryant, who finished with 45 points, also drained nine straight three-pointers during one stretch to establish another NBA mark. He made 12-of-18 treys and was 16-of-28 overall from the floor.

"The shots he made in the first half and most of the second half were shots that for the most part, our guys were there," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "I don't think he had any or maybe a couple uncontested shots. But he was great four feet behind the three-point line. The guy found his rhythm with his shot and he just felt it."

"I've seen [Michael] Jordan and a lot of guys do that, I've seen Chuck Person do that," Sonics guard Gary Payton said. "He was just in a zone, he made shots. He kept firing it up and it kept going in."

Los Angeles sank a team-record 17 three-pointers on 32 tries (53 percent) and shot 56 percent from the field overall.

On the flip side, the Sonics made only 3-of-8 three-point attempts and were never in the contest after the opening quarter.

Desmond Mason scored a team-high 19 points and also grabbed nine rebounds for the Sonics, who have lost two straight and six of their last eight. Vladimir Radmanovic added 18 points, Kenny Anderson scored 17 and Payton collected 14 points and 12 assists.

"The Sonics played well," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Without Kobe shooting, it would have been a much different type of game."

Sonics guard Brent Barry missed his second straight game because of left knee tendinitis. Mason has been starting in place of Barry, who is day-to-day.

Center Jerome James made his return for Seattle on Tuesday and collected two points and four boards in 12 minutes before fouling out. James, who saw his first action since a November 6 contest at New Orleans, had missed the last 27 games with a right foot injury.

The Sonics return to KeyArena for a three-game homestand, starting Wednesday with a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.