Kobe Channels Wilt, Goes for 81 Points

[FUZO]

TweetKobe Channels Wilt, Goes for 81 Points

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant scored a staggering 81 points — the second-highest total in NBA history — and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 122-104 Sunday night.


With the fans at Staples Center chanting "MVP! MVP!" Bryant made two free throws with 43.4 seconds remaining for his final points, putting him behind only Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time scoring list.

Chamberlain scored 100 points for Philadelphia against the New York Knicks at Hershey, Pa., on March 2, 1962. His second-highest total was 78 against the Lakers in three overtimes on Dec. 8, 1961.

"I couldn't even dream of this when I was a kid," Bryant said. "There was no way possible."

Bryant left to a standing ovation with 4.2 seconds remaining, having shot 28-of-46 from the floor and 18-of-20 from the foul line. He was 7-of-13 from 3-point range.

Elgin Baylor held the previous franchise record of 71 points at New York on Nov. 15, 1960.

Michael Jordan's career high was 69 points, and only four players had ever scored more than 70 — Chamberlain, Baylor, David Thompson and David Robinson.

The 27-year-old Bryant made it five.

He played nearly 42 minutes, going the entire second half until being lifted by coach Phil Jackson. He scored 27 points in the third quarter and 28 more in the fourth.

That came on the same night the NBA had its highest-scoring game in 11 years when Seattle beat Phoenix 152-149 in two overtimes. The last 300-point game in the league came when Dallas beat Houston 156-147 in two overtimes on April 11, 1995, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Bryant's previous career high was 62 points during a 112-90 victory over Dallas last month, but sat out the fourth quarter because of the one-sided nature of the game.

Lamar Odom's 3-pointer with 7:04 remaining gave the Lakers a 100-93 lead, and Bryant scored 30 seconds later to give him 61 points and his team a nine-point advantage.

Bryant scored all but 15 of the Lakers' 42 points in the third quarter, shooting 11-of-15 including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Six of his points came during a 12-0 run to finish the period, giving Los Angeles a 91-85 lead.

Smush Parker was second on the Lakers with 13 points and Chris Mihm added 12 points and eight rebounds.

Mike James had 26 points and 10 assists for Toronto. Chris Bosh added 18 points and eight rebounds and Jalen Rose scored 17 points.

The Lakers outscored the Raptors 38-14 to finish the third period to go ahead for good.

With Bryant on the bench, the Lakers were outscored 10-3 in the first 6 minutes of the second quarter. Sasha Vujacic's 3-pointer was their only field goal in 11 tries during that time.

The Raptors led by as many as 16 points in the period before settling for a 63-49 halftime lead. Bryant had 26 points and James had 19 points and nine assists in the first half.

Toronto shot 15-of-22 including 4-of-6 from 3-point range in the first quarter for a 36-29 lead.

Notes:@ Bryant scored a season-low 11 points in the Lakers' 102-91 victory over the Raptors in Toronto last month. He had 14 in the first quarter of this game. ... The Raptors have gone 13-12 since losing 15 of their first 16 games this season. ... Bryant has led the Lakers in scoring in the last 21 games in which he's played. He entered with an NBA-leading 34.8-point average, and is averaging 45.5 points in 10 games since sitting out a two-game suspension. ... Toronto C Rafael Araujo, who has made 30 starts this season, missed his second straight game and third of the season because of a sore right shoulder. ... Bryant made his first five foul shots before missing late in the second quarter, snapping his streak of consecutive made free throws at 62. Michael Williams made an NBA-record 93 straight for Minnesota in 1993. ... Bryant received a technical foul with 10:44 left — shortly after being accidentally struck above the right eye.

[FUZO]

TweetI WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE RAPTORS LET HIM SCORE ALL THOSE POINTS.IN TODAYS AGE THATS JUST NOT RIGHT UNLESS THE FIX IS ON

[supasaiyan99]

TweetDamn!!! Hey what was the Score of the 100 point Wilt Chamberlain game?

[solidground]

Tweeti can see how u would think it may be fixed..but i think hes just that good..81 is just rediculous i wish i saw the game. i bet he will have a few more games over 60 this season

[supasaiyan99]

Tweet

i can see how u would think it may be fixed..but i think hes just that good..81 is just rediculous i wish i saw the game. i bet he will have a few more games over 60 this season

I'm sure his ego went up a tad more!!!