LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant saved one of his best performances for last as he capped his distinguished 20-year NBA career in spectacular fashion.

The 37-year-old veteran scored a season-high 60 points -- including 17 straight in the fourth quarter -- in the final game of his NBA career, and the Los Angeles Lakers used a late rally to defeat the Utah Jazz 101-96 Wednesday at Staples Center.

Bryant, who had 23 points in the final period and 38 in the second half, snot 22-for-50 from the floor -- an NBA record for field-goal attempts -- and 6-for-21 from 3-point range. He left the game with 4.1 seconds remaining to a standing ovation and chants of "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe!"

"I knew coming in tonight I just didn't want to play bad, so I had to kind of focus on the game," said Bryant, who recorded his 25th career game of 50 or more points and topped 60 points for the sixth time.

Bryant said he was as stunned as anyone that he was able to reach down and deliver an encore to a career that included five NBA championships, 18 consecutive All-Star Games and an 81-point performance that remains the league's second-highest scoring output.

"The coolest thing is that my kids actually saw see me play like I used to play," said Bryant, who became the oldest player to score 60 points. "They were like, 'Whoa, Dad!' They were like, 'Really?'"

Back-to-back buckets and a 3-pointer by Bryant cut Utah's lead to 96-95 with 59 seconds left. Bryant drained a 20-foot jumper with 31 seconds remaining to give the Lakers a 97-96 lead.

That turned out to be the difference. He hit two free throws with 14.8 seconds remaining to cap his sensational scoring exhibition before recording an assist on Jordan Clarkson's dunk with 4.1 seconds left.

"I can't believe this happened," Bryant said. "This is crazy to me, it's crazy. There is no way I can imagine this happening."

Utah's Gordon Hayward said he had a clue early on it could be a vintage performance for Bryant.

"You knew it was going to be his night when he came out firing," said Hayward, who finished with 17 points. "He hit some tough shots there in the first quarter and had like 15 or something. I think we probably got caught up a little bit in the moment and everything that happened. I think we had like an eight- or 10-point lead there at the end of the game and just didn't play well down the stretch."

Clarkson chipped in 12 points for the Lakers (17-65) and was the only other Los Angeles player to reach double figures.

Bryant missed his first five shots before converting on his next five attempts, including a reverse layup for a three-point play and then a 3-pointer. He scored 15 of the Lakers' 19 first-quarter points, but they trailed the Jazz by two after the opening period. Roy Hibbert scored the other four for the Lakers.

In the second quarter, Utah outscored Los Angeles 36-23 for a 57-42 advantage at the break. Bryant led all scorers with 22 at that point, but not one of his teammates managed more than four.

Bryant also made all the Lakers' 3-pointers.

"No, it was incredible," Lakers coach Byron Scott said when asked if he ever saw anything resembling Bryant's performance. "I've never seen it, never been a part of it, never witnessed anything like that. As I told the guys just a minute ago, they just witnessed history, and I hope they realize that man gave everything he had for 20 years, and he did again tonight."

Trey Lyles had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Jazz (40-42). Utah lost its bid for a postseason berth before tip-off when the Houston Rockets claimed a 116-81 victory over the Sacramento Kings to sew up the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

"I think we'll be right where we need to be next year," Lyles said. "Getting some guys back. Getting Alec Burks back healthy again. Dante (Exum) back healthy. Going back full strength, and we'll see what happens next year."

Utah played without center Rudy Gobert, who has a sprained ankle.

NOTES: Lakers F Kobe Bryant finished his career with 33,581 points, the third-highest total in NBA history. ... Hall of Famer Magic Johnson spoke before a video tribute honoring Bryant was played to the roaring crowd prior to the game. The video featured former Lakers coach Phil Jackson, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, Bryant's former teammates Shaquille O'Neal, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom and current NBA players Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett. Jack Nicholson also was part of the video. ... Despite all the records Bryant accumulated, he managed to win just one NBA MVP award, in 2008.