By Ron Strugano
4th Period 120-102 Lakers - 1:30
Kobe gets fouled behind the three point line and if he hits all three he gets 2nd place in NBA history. He drains all three. 79 points for Kobe.
4th Period 117-102 Lakers - 2:30
Kobe is up to the 3rd best scoring performance in NBA history. 78 is 2nd best by Wilt. Kobe has 76.
4th Period 113-96 Lakers - 4:00
Kobe has hit back to back three pointers to hit 70 and is one point away from the Laker record. Next time down, they give Kobe the ball and he gets the record. Elgin Baylor had the record with 71 points and West was at 69.
4th Period 105-94 Lakers - 6:00
The Raptors are making a living at the free throw line. Some of these calls are questionable but atleast they are going to the basket. Lamar hits his first field goal of the game, a three pointer off a pass from Kobe. Kobe is up to 64 for the game and a new career high.
4th Period 97-90 Lakers - 8:00
The Raptors feel like guarding Kobe one on one with Mo Pete. If thats the best defensive approach they come with, then Kobe is getting a career high tonight.
4th Period 91-88 Lakers - 10:00
The Raptors come out strong in the 4th and have cut the laker lead in half. They could have done better, but they too ar emissing shots.
End of 3rd Period 91-85 Lakers
The Lakers outscored the Raptors 42-22 and Kobe had 27 points by himself. Just for the record, Kobe is shooting 66% from the field in this game and he does have an assist. Smush Parker has 13 points and is the 2nd high scorer for the Lakers.
End of 3rd Period 91-85 Lakers
Three of the Lakers last 4 field goals were dunks. It was a combination of great passing and horrible defense. Kobe ends the period with 53 points as the Lakers go on a 12-0 run to take the lead.
3rd Period 85-83 Raptors - 2:00
Jalen Rose makes a nice move in the post. Odom makes a great behind the back pass to Smush for a dunk. The Raptors defense has just fallen apart (it did not have a long distance to fall) in this quarter.
3rd Period 78-77 Raptors - 4:00
Kobe drains a three pointer and has 28 of the Lakers last 30 points. Odom has two on free throws. Although Kobe has taken a couple of forced shots in this stretch, at this point you gotta let him go and do his thing. He is playing much better defense this half and with that, Laker fans can settle for the questionable shot from him.
3rd Period 77-68 Raptors - 6:00
Kobe has made the last 9 field goals for the Lakers and is over 40 points. It seems as if the Laker run is coming, but something always goes wrong to allow them really to put the pressure on the Raptors. Both teams are out of fouls for the remainder of the period.
3rd Period 69-59 Raptors - 8:00
Kobe is starting to get it going as he is probably going to take over this game. But the Lakers need to win the battle on the defensive end, before anything else will matter.
3rd Period 65-53 Raptors - 10:00
The Lakers come out a little better as they are atleast making the Raptors work for their points.
Halftime 63-49 Raptors
Mike James has 19, Villanueva has 12, Bosh has 10 and 6 boards. The stats do not lie. The Lakers are leading in turnovers 11-7!
Halftime 63-49 Raptors
I am not being hard on them, as I will let the stats prove my point. The Raptors shooting stats at the half. Field Goals 24-38, 63% Free Throws 8-9, 88% 3-Pointers 7-10, 69%
Halftime 63-49 Raptors
Kobes string of made free throws comes to an end, but atleast the rebound came back to him and he got a bucket. Kobe is the game high scorer with 26 points. When the Lakers come out of the locker room, look at Phil. See if he is still red from the tirade he has over the next 10 minutes. The Lakers including Kobe should give their first half salaries to charity.
2nd Period 58-44 Raptors - 2:00
Lamar Odom has 3 fouls and zero points so far in this game. His third foul was an obvious offensive foul.
2nd Period 48-37 Raptors - 4:00
Kobe comes back into the game after the timeout and hits a three to get things going. Brian Cook hits a jumper for back to back buckets for the Lakers. On the flip side Kobe has forced atleast 4 shots tonight that was just simply ball hogging. Falling away with multiple defenders on him and not hitting the outlet man. These are the types of games that makes it so that Kobe will always be considered a ball hog. His play this year has been awesome and his shot selection has been the best as a Laker so this game is disappointing to watch.
2nd Period 44-32 Raptors - 6:00
Ugly! Thats the offense on both sides but especially the Lakers.
2nd Period 40-32 Raptors - 8:00
The Lakers are asleep today and again its Lamar who is leading the way. He is going to get ripped in the local media if his current play continues. Out of bounds play he is on the ball. He does not stand so that the pass to the basket is blocked and he has his hands on his shorts while the inbouder is trying to pass the ball. What is that?? On the play Kwame's man gets inside of him, the pass goes under the bucket for the hoop and the foul. Just incase you were wondering.
2nd Period 38-29 Raptors - 10:00
The Laker reserves start slow as they have not scored on their first couple of possessions. Pape Sow for the Raptors is in the game after be called up from the D league.
End of 1st Period 36-29 Raptors
Kobe Bryant is the game high scorer with 14 points, but he has been forcing a few shots tonight. Lately his shot selection has been very good, but this game he is pressing. Like he knows he can go for 60 and is trying to get their in the first half. Granted he is right, as the Raptors have no defense. They should pop in a video of UCLA playing defense and take some lessons from the college kids under the teaching of Ben Howland.
End of 1st Period 36-29 Raptors
Mike James has 6 assists in the first 10 minutes of the game, along with 11 points. The Lakers have zero fouls in this game and its becuase they are not playing defense. Chris Mihm and 8 pts and 3 rebounds early on.
1st Period 29-21 Raptors - 2:00
The only player for the Raptors who has not scored yet is Rose, and the way he is playing lately he will get his.
1st Period 23-15 Raptors - 4:00
Lakers call a timeout and Kobe hits a jumper to stop the bleeding. Villanueva has 8 points off the bench early on, as Bonner actually started the game.
1st Period 21-11 Raptors - 6:00
Villanueva has two buckets in the paint and its the Laker defense that looks like swiss cheese to start this game. The Raptors are on a blistering pace shooting wise. 9-11, 81% and 3-4 from 3 point land.
1st Period 13-9 Raptors - 8:00
The Raptors have hit two three pointers early on and thats pretty much what they do. The two teams start the game a combined 7-10. The other thing you get with the Raptors is an open lane to drive the ball. The Lakers should not settle for any jump shots tonight, as the lane is open.
1st Period 5-3 Raptors - 10:00
Smush Parker starts the game off with a steal and a dunk to get the Lakers on the board. Morris Peterson answered with a jump shot.
Pregame
Bryant's 34.8 points per game average is a career-high and he is also averaging 41.6 points over the last nine games, since returning from a two-game suspension for connecting with an elbow to the throat of Memphis' Mike Miller, in the Lakers' 100-99 Dec. 28 to the Grizzlies. He is averaging 23.2 points in 15 career games against the Raptors.
Pregame
Toronto improved to 1-2 in its five-game road trip with a 121-113 win Friday over the Seattle SuperSonics. Chris Bosh scored a game-high 29 and Jalen Rose added 28 for Toronto.
Pregame
The Raptors come in with the winning streak and the Lakers come in with the losing streak. Los Angeles has dominated Toronto winning 15 of the 19 games in the all-time series, including a 7-2 home record.
Pregame
Welcome to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, where the Toronto Raptors (14-26) are at the Los Angeles Lakers (21-19).

6 rbs, 3 assists
LA Lakers 122, Toronto 104
Preview - Box Score - Recap

By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer


LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 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.

Holy crap !! 81 points in a non overtime game is amazing..he shot 28-46 from the floor with 7 3 pointers and 18 free throws...This guy is just unreal. Say what you want about him but lets not deny his greatness. Noone in the NBA is better. NOONE. by the way I really hate Kobe for everything he did to Shaq and talking to the cops about what Shaq does with other women, even before that i hated the way he stuck his tounge out to copy MJ but with all this said I still can see he is the best in the NBA right now...

Kobe is a fawken animal. :eek2:

Game 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.

Jesus christ.. Kobe is an animal.

Forget about LeBron..Kobe just eclipsed any achievement he made this week lol. He's having one hell of a season.

I'm watching it now on ESPNEWS. NUTTY!! Completely OUT OF CONTROL!! To drop that many points in todays game is astonishing. Far from a Kobe fan, but you got to give the guy props. Thats an incredible feat. Once, your hot, you might as well keep shooting. It was zoned out. And they still won. Toronto just didnt know how to shut him down, or atleast try to take him out of his game. Did they even try?? Toronto isnt that good this year, but DAMN!!!

NBA All-Time 50-Point Games
January 23, 2006

Pts Player, Team Opponent Date
=== ============ ======== ====

100 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 3/2/1962
81 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers Toronto 1/22/2006
78 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia LA Lakers 12/8/1961 (3OT)
73 David Thompson, Denver Detroit 4/9/1978
73 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco New York 11/16/1962
73 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Chicago 1/13/1962
72 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco LA Lakers 11/3/1962
71 David Robinson, San Antonio LA Clippers 4/24/1994
71 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers New York 11/15/1960
70 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Syracuse 3/10/1963
69 Michael Jordan, Chicago Cleveland 3/28/1990 (OT)
68 Pete Maravich, New Orleans New York 2/25/1977
68 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Chicago 12/16/1967
67 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco LA Lakers 1/11/1963
67 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 2/25/1962
67 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia St Louis 2/17/1962
67 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 3/9/1961
66 Wilt Chamberlain, LA Lakers Phoenix 2/9/1969
65 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia LA Lakers 2/7/1966
65 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia St Louis 2/27/1962
65 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Cincinnati 2/13/1962
64 Michael Jordan, Chicago Orlando 1/16/1993 (OT)
64 Rick Barry, Golden State Portland 3/26/1974
64 Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis Boston 11/8/1959
63 George Gervin, San Antonio New Orleans 4/9/1978
63 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Philadelphia 11/26/1964
63 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco LA Lakers 12/14/1962
63 Jerry West, LA Lakers New York 1/17/1962
63 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers Philadelphia 12/8/1961 (3OT)
63 Joe Fulks, Philadelphia Indiana 2/10/1949
62 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers Dallas 12/20/2005
62 Tracy McGrady, Orlando Washington 3/10/2004
62 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Philadelphia 3/3/1966
62 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Cincinnati 11/15/1964
62 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco New York 1/29/1963
62 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Syracuse 1/21/1962 (OT)
62 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia St Louis 1/17/1962 (OT)
62 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Boston 1/14/1962
61 Shaquille O'Neal, LA Lakers LA Clippers 3/6/2000
61 Karl Malone, Utah Milwaukee 1/27/1990
61 Michael Jordan, Chicago Atlanta 4/16/1987
61 Michael Jordan, Chicago Detroit 3/4/1987 (OT)
61 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco St Louis 12/18/1962
61 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Syracuse 12/11/1962
61 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Cincinnati 11/21/1962
61 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Chicago 2/28/1962
61 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia St Louis 2/22/1962
61 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Chicago 12/9/1961
61 George Mikan, Minneapolis Rochester 1/20/1952 (2OT)
60 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia Orlando 2/12/2005
60 Tom Chambers, Phoenix Seattle 3/24/1990
60 Larry Bird, Boston Atlanta 3/12/1985
60 Bernard King, New York New Jersey 12/25/1984
60 Wilt Chamberlain, LA Lakers Cincinnati 1/26/1969
60 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia LA Lakers 12/29/1961
60 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia LA Lakers 12/1/1961
59 Michael Jordan, Chicago Detroit 4/3/1988
59 Purvis Short, Golden State New Jersey 11/17/1984
59 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Detroit 2/11/1964
59 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco LA Lakers 12/6/1963
59 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco St Louis 12/2/1962
59 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Cincinnati 11/18/1962
59 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco New York 10/30/1962
59 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 2/8/1962
59 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 12/25/1961 (2OT)
59 Jack Twyman, Cincinnati Minneapolis 1/15/1960
58 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia Houston 1/15/2002 (OT)
58 Michael Jordan, Chicago New Jersey 2/26/1987
58 Fred Brown, Seattle Golden State 3/23/1974
58 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Cincinnati 2/13/1967
58 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco New York 12/15/1964 (OT)
58 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Detroit 1/24/1963
58 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Detroit 11/8/1961
58 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Detroit 11/4/1961
58 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Cincinnati 2/25/1961
58 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 2/21/1960
58 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Detroit 1/25/1960
57 Jerry Stackhouse, Detroit Chicago 4/3/2001
57 Michael Jordan, Chicago Washington 12/23/1992
57 Reggie Miller, Indiana Charlotte 11/28/1992
57 Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Chicago 12/10/1986
57 Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta New Jersey 3/18/1978
57 Purvis Short, Golden State San Antonio 1/7/1984
57 Adrian Dantley, Utah Chicago 12/4/1982
57 Calvin Murphy, Houston New Jersey 3/18/1978
57 Rick Barry, San Francisco Cincinnati 10/29/1966
57 Rick Barry, San Francisco New York 12/14/1965
57 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Chicago 11/10/1962
57 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Cincinnati 12/19/1961
57 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia LA Lakers 10/20/1961
57 Bob Pettit, St Louis Detroit 2/18/1961
57 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers Detroit 2/16/1961
57 Richie Guerin, New York Syracuse 12/11/1959
56 LeBron James, Cleveland Toronto 3/20/2005
56 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers Memphis 1/14/2002
56 Karl Malone, Utah Golden State 4/7/1998
56 Glen Rice, Miami Orlando 4/15/1995
56 Tom Chambers, Phoenix Golden State 2/18/1990
56 Michael Jordan, Chicago Philadelphia 3/24/1987
56 Kevin McHale, Boston Detroit 3/3/1985
56 Kelly Tripucka, Detroit Chicago 1/19/1983
56 Chet Walker, Chicago Cincinnati 2/6/1972
56 Earl Monroe, Baltimore LA Lakers 2/13/1968 (OT)
56 Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati LA Lakers 12/18/1964
56 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Baltimore 12/1/1964 (2OT)
56 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco LA Lakers 2/16/1963 (2OT)
56 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Cincinnati 2/7/1963
56 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Detroit 10/23/1962
56 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia LA Lakers 3/1/1961
56 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Syracuse 3/1/1961
56 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers Syracuse 1/24/1961
56 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia LA Lakers 1/21/1961
56 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Syracuse 1/5/1961
56 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 1/2/1961
55 Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Indiana 1/4/2005
55 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers Washington 3/28/2003
55 Michael Jordan, Chicago New York 3/28/1995
55 Bernard King, New York New Jersey 2/16/1985
55 Adrian Dantley, Utah Denver 2/6/1981
55 George Gervin, San Antonio Atlanta 1/23/1980
55 Rick Barry, Golden State New York 3/25/1978
55 Rick Barry, Golden State Philadelphia 1/23/1975
55 Nate Archibald, Cincinnati Portland 2/23/1972
55 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Boston 12/10/1971
55 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco LA Lakers 3/14/1964
55 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco LA Lakers 11/2/1963
55 Cliff Hagan, St Louis Cincinnati 2/11/1962
55 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 1/30/1962
55 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Chicago 1/24/1962
55 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia St Louis 1/7/1962
55 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Detroit 12/20/1961
55 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Chicago 12/10/1961
55 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Syracuse 11/9/1961
55 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Syracuse 10/27/1961
55 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 2/5/1961
55 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Cincinnati 11/12/1959
55 Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis Cincinnati 2/25/1959
54 Damon Stoudamire, Portland New Orleans 1/14/2005
54 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia Milwaukee 12/18/2004
54 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia Cleveland 1/6/2001
54 Michael Jordan, Chicago LA Lakers 11/20/1992 (OT)
54 Michael Adams, Denver Milwaukee 3/23/1991 (OT)
54 Michael Jordan, Chicago Cleveland 11/3/1989 (OT)
54 Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Boston 3/3/1987 (OT)
54 Alex English, Denver Houston 11/19/1985
54 Dave Bing, Detroit Chicago 2/21/1971
54 Elvin Hayes, San Diego Detroit 11/13/1968
54 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Cincinnati 3/1/1963
54 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Chicago 11/9/1962
54 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Cincinnati 1/18/1962
54 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Detroit 12/12/1961
53 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia Atlanta 12/23/2005
53 Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Houston 12/02/2004 (OT)
53 Allan Houston, New York LA Lakers 2/16/2003
53 Tim Duncan, San Antonio Dallas 12/16/2001 (OT)
53 Tony Delk, Phoenix Sacramento 1/2/2001 (OT)
53 Michael Jordan, Chicago Detroit 3/7/1996
53 Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Minnesota 4/20/1994
53 Willie Burton, Philadelphia Miami 12/13/1993
53 Dale Ellis, Seattle Milwaukee 11/9/1989 (4OT)
53 Michael Jordan, Chicago Phoenix 1/21/1989
53 Michael Jordan, Chicago Indiana 4/12/1987
53 Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta LA Clippers 1/12/1987
53 Michael Jordan, Chicago Portland 1/8/1987
53 Larry Bird, Boston Indiana 3/30/1983
53 Adrian Dantley, Utah Denver 4/10/1982
53 Moses Malone, Houston San Diego 2/2/1982
53 George Gervin, San Antonio Denver 1/8/1980
53 Gail Goodrich, LA Lakers KC-Omaha 3/28/1975
53 Phil Chenier, Baltimore Portland 12/6/1972
53 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Philadelphia 2/18/1972
53 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Cleveland 2/9/1972
53 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Boston 1/27/1971
53 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Cleveland 11/4/1970
53 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia LA Lakers 3/18/1968
53 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Seattle 12/20/1967
53 Jerry West, LA Lakers Cincinnati 1/29/1965
53 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Baltimore 1/3/1965
53 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Detroit 11/12/1964
53 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco St Louis 11/29/1962
53 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco LA Lakers 11/23/1962
53 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Cincinnati 10/28/1962
53 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Cincinnati 2/1/1962
53 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Boston 1/27/1962
53 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Detroit 1/19/1962
53 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia St Louis 1/5/1962
53 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 12/27/1961
53 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia New York 10/21/1961
53 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Boston 2/23/1960
53 George Mikan, Minneapolis Baltimore 2/26/1949
52 LeBron James, Cleveland Milwaukee 12/10/2005
52 Tracy McGrady, Orlando Chicago 2/21/2003
52 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers Houston 2/18/2003 (2OT)
52 Michael Jordan, Chicago Charlotte 3/12/1993
52 David Robinson, San Antonio Charlotte 1/16/1993
52 Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta New York 12/7/1991 (2OT)
52 Bernard King, Washington Denver 12/29/1990
52 Charles Smith, LA Clippers Denver 12/1/1990
52 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Denver 4/19/1990 (OT)
52 Terry Cummings, San Antonio Charlotte 1/31/1990
52 Karl Malone, Utah Charlotte 12/22/1989
52 Michael Jordan, Chicago Orlando 12/20/1989
52 Michael Jordan, Chicago Denver 11/26/1988
52 Michael Jordan, Chicago Philadelphia 11/16/1988
52 Michael Jordan, Chicago Boston 11/9/1988
52 Michael Jordan, Chicago Portland 2/26/1988
52 Michael Jordan, Chicago Cleveland 12/17/1988
52 Bernard King, New York Indiana 11/24/1984
52 Joe Barry Carroll, Golden State Utah 3/5/1983
52 Ray Williams, New Jersey Detroit 4/17/1982
52 Billy Knight, Indiana San Antonio 11/11/1980
52 Mike Newlin, New Jersey Boston 12/16/1979 (OT)
52 George Gervin, San Antonio San Diego 1/11/1979
52 Bob McAdoo, Buffalo Seattle 3/17/1976
52 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Atlanta 1/2/1975
52 Bob McAdoo, Buffalo Boston 2/22/1974
52 Nate Archibald, KC-Omaha Atlanta 1/27/1973
52 Nate Archibald, KC-Omaha New York 1/9/1973 (OT)
52 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Seattle 12/1/1967
52 Rick Barry, San Francisco Chicago 2/16/1967
52 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco New York 11/6/1964
52 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Cincinnati 2/25/1964
52 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Detroit 2/18/1964
52 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Cincinnati 2/17/1964
52 Bob Pettit, St Louis Baltimore 11/16/1963
52 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Detroit 12/21/1962
52 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers San Francisco 12/15/1962
52 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Cincinnati 1/11/1962
52 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers St Louis 12/13/1961
52 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Boston 12/13/1961
52 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers St Louis 12/11/1961
52 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers Philadelphia 12/8/1961
52 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Cincinnati 2/3/1961
52 Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis Detroit 10/18/1959
52 Bob Pettit, St Louis Boston 1/20/1959
52 George Yardley, Detroit Syracuse 2/4/1958
51 LeBron James, Cleveland Utah 1/21/2006
51 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers Sacramento 1/19/2006 (OT)
51 Vince Carter, New Jersey Miami 12/23/2005
51 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia Utah 12/20/2004
51 Tracy McGrady, Orlando Denver 11/14/2003
51 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers Denver 2/12/2003
51 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia Toronto 1/21/2001 (OT)
51 Chris Webber, Sacramento Indiana 1/5/2001
51 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers Golden State 12/6/2000 (OT)
51 Antawn Jamison, Golden State LA Lakers 12/6/2000 (OT)
51 Antawn Jamison, Golden State Seattle 12/3/2000
51 Vince Carter, Toronto Phoenix 2/27/2000
51 Michael Jordan, Chicago New York 1/21/1997
51 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Boston 1/18/1996
51 Karl Malone, Utah Golden State 12/9/1995
51 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Denver Utah 12/7/1995
51 Michael Jordan, Chicago Washington 3/19/1992
51 Vernon Maxwell, Houston Cleveland 1/26/1991
51 Patrick Ewing, New York Boston 3/24/1990
51 Alex English, Denver Miami 3/10/1989 (2OT)
51 Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Sacramento 2/16/1988
51 Moses Malone, Philadelphia Detroit 11/14/1984 (OT)
51 Kiki Vandeweghe, Denver Detroit 12/13/1983 (3OT)
51 Moses Malone, Houston Golden State 3/11/1981
51 Adrian Dantley, Utah Denver 1/7/1981
51 Larry Kenon, San Antonio Detroit 3/30/1980
51 Freeman Williams, San Diego Phoenix 1/19/1980
51 Truck Robinson, New Orleans New Jersey 11/21/1978
51 Rick Barry, Golden State Philadelphia 10/29/1977
51 Pete Maravich, New Orleans Phoenix 3/18/1977
51 Pete Maravich, New Orleans Kansas City 12/14/1976
51 Phil Smith, Golden State Houston 12/11/1976
51 Phil Smith, Golden State Phoenix 1/8/1976
51 Bob McAdoo, Buffalo Houston 2/22/1975
51 Rick Barry, Golden State Philadelphia 2/23/1974
51 Geoff Petrie, Portland Houston 3/16/1973
51 Geoff Petrie, Portland Houston 1/20/1973
51 Rick Barry, Golden State Houston 1/17/1973
51 Spencer Haywood, Seattle KC-Omaha 1/3/1973
51 Nate Archibald, KC-Omaha Houston 11/18/1972
51 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Boston 2/13/1972
51 Jerry West, LA Lakers Cincinnati 12/10/1965
51 Jerry West, LA Lakers Cincinnati 12/3/1965
51 Sam Jones, Boston Detroit 10/29/1965
51 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Baltimore 3/14/1965
51 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Detroit 3/8/1963
51 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Chicago 3/6/1963
51 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Detroit 2/13/1963
51 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers San Francisco 12/14/1962
51 Wilt Chamberlain, San Francisco Detroit 12/7/1962
51 Richie Guerin, New York Boston 2/14/1962
51 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Syracuse 12/26/1961
51 Bob Pettit, St Louis Philadelphia 12/6/1961
51 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Chicago 11/19/1961
51 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers Detroit 11/25/1960
51 George Yardley, Detroit Boston 1/15/1958
51 Bob Pettit, St Louis Syracuse 12/21/1957
51 George Mikan, Minneapolis Rochester 1/14/1950
51 George Mikan, Minneapolis New York 3/13/1949
50 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers LA Clippers 1/7/2006
50 Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Portland 1/2/2005
50 Jamal Crawford, Chicago Toronto 4/11/2004 (OT)
50 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia Atlanta 11/29/2003
50 Rashard Lewis, Seattle LA Clippers 10/31/2003
50 Jamal Mashburn, New Orleans Memphis 2/21/2003 (OT)
50 Tracy McGrady, Orlando Washington 3/8/2002
50 Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Atlanta Detroit 11/23/2001
50 Stephon Marbury, New Jersey LA Lakers 2/13/2001 (OT)
50 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia Sacramento 2/6/2000
50 Clifford Robinson, Phoenix Denver 1/16/2000
50 Shaquille O'Neal, LA Lakers New Jersey 4/2/1998
50 Tracy Murray, Washington Golden State 2/10/1998
50 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia Cleveland 4/12/1997
50 Michael Jordan, Chicago Miami 11/6/1996
50 Alonzo Mourning, Miami Washington 3/29/1996
50 Dana Barros, Philadelphia Houston 3/14/1995
50 Cedric Ceballos, LA Lakers Minnesota 12/20/1994
50 Jim Jackson, Dallas Denver 11/26/1994 (OT)
50 Jamal Mashburn, Dallas Chicago 11/12/1994 (OT)
50 David Robinson, San Antonio Minnesota 2/21/1994
50 Nick Anderson, Orlando New Jersey 4/23/1993
50 Michael Jordan, Chicago Denver 3/24/1992
50 Bernard King, Washington Utah 3/6/1991
50 Patrick Ewing, New York Charlotte 12/1/1990
50 Larry Bird, Boston Atlanta 11/10/1989
50 Michael Jordan, Chicago Milwaukee 2/16/1989
50 Clyde Drexler, Portland Sacramento 1/6/1989 (2OT)
50 Michael Jordan, Chicago Boston 3/18/1988
50 Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Detroit 3/1/1988
50 Michael Jordan, Chicago Milwaukee 4/13/1987
50 Moses Malone, Washington New Jersey 4/8/1987
50 Michael Jordan, Chicago New York 11/1/1986
50 Larry Bird, Boston Dallas 3/10/1986
50 Bernard King, New York Dallas 2/1/1984
50 Bernard King, New York San Antonio 1/31/1984
50 Kiki Vandeweghe, Denver San Antonio 1/11/1984
50 George Gervin, San Antonio Milwaukee 3/6/1982 (3OT)
50 Bernard King, Golden State Philadelphia 1/3/1981
50 Adrian Dantley, Utah Dallas 10/31/1980
50 Adrian Dantley, Utah LA Lakers 11/27/1979
50 John Drew, Atlanta Denver 12/30/1978
50 John Williamson, New Jersey Indiana 4/4/1978
50 Pete Maravich, New Orleans Washignton 12/26/1976
50 Bob McAdoo, Buffalo Cleveland 11/20/1975 (OT)
50 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee LA Lakers 3/17/1972
50 Pete Maravich, Atlanta Cleveland 2/5/1972
50 Pete Maravich, Atlanta Philadelphia 1/16/1972
50 Walt Wesley, Cleveland Cincinnati 2/19/1971
50 Elvin Hayes, San Diego Seattle 11/20/1970
50 Rick Barry, San Francisco Boston 2/14/1967
50 Rick Barry, San Francisco Detroit 1/14/1967
50 Rick Barry, San Francisco Cincinnati 12/25/1966
50 Rick Barry, San Francisco St Louis 12/8/1966
50 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Chicago 12/16/1961
50 Elgin Baylor, LA Lakers Syracuse 12/4/1961
50 Jack Twyman, Cincinnati St Louis 2/25/1959
50 Dolph Schayes, Syracuse Boston 2/1/1959
50 Bob Pettit, St Louis Detroit 1/11/1959
50 Neil Johnston, Philadelphia Syracuse 2/16/1954

How many total assists? :D

I am a Laker fan, but they lack depth (for now)
yeah i agree the way they play might not be the way to win champ now, but damn you can't deny what he did tonight

that's just insane!

Special night today...hope they replay it tommorow on Foxsports at noon. Well he had 81, but I'll just read up on this thread tommorow and see how people still hate on him or have something negative to say in typical fashion about Kobe...."ball hog, look at the low assists, etc etc"...who cares about that if you can single handly dominate a team like he does.

I'm watching it now on ESPNEWS. NUTTY!! Completely OUT OF CONTROL!! To drop that many points in todays game is astonishing. Far from a Kobe fan, but you got to give the guy props. Thats an incredible feat. Once, your hot, you might as well keep shooting. It was zoned out. And they still won. Toronto just didnt know how to shut him down, or atleast try to take him out of his game. Did they even try?? Toronto isnt that good this year, but DAMN!!!

They tried a box in one zone defense, they tried doubling (a little), they tried to guard him with different people.

Wow. Incredible performance! What he did was unreal....Wilt's 100 was against players that weren't nearly as tall as him, nor were defenses as advanced as they are today. A 6'6" GUARD doing this....is just amazing.

Today was history day - Seahawks making their first Superbowl trip and Kobe's 81. Lovin' it :D

YOU'RE AN ANIMAL ROCKY

Im so proud of L.A. :thumbup:

Kobe > Jordan :p

holy.......

Guy is disgusting, so so good. I mean seriously he could have done this weeks ago but took himself outta the game in the 3rd. Guy is just amazing.

One-man Showtime
By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports
January 23, 2006

Dan Wetzel
Yahoo! Sports Exclusive
Kobe Bryant scored 81 points on Sunday – enough to rank second all time to Wilt Chamberlain's immortal 100-point game in 1962 and knock the NFL off the front burner of sports conversations – and yet people still will criticize him.

Count on it. They'll say he should have passed more (he had just two assists). They'll say he just did it for the spotlight. They'll point to his 18 misses, not his 28 makes.

They'll go on and on. Only in basketball could a guy score 81 points, make history, send every ticket holder home with a story of a lifetime, cause cell phones across America to ring with "Are you watching this?" calls, generally create amazement and wonder – and still get criticized

But watch it happen.

Kobe Bryant kicked ass Sunday, and if you can't understand that, then you need to try. This wasn't about Bryant being a ball hog or a bad teammate. Quite the contrary. The Los Angeles Lakers were getting pounded by the Toronto Raptors (down 16 at one point) until Kobe looked at his bad teammates and decided to try to win the game – which the Lakers did, 122-104.

ADVERTISEMENT


Yes No
Yes No

Yes No

"It just happened," Bryant said afterward. "For me, it was all about the W. I thought we were lethargic. I wanted to ride the wave and demoralize our opponent."

And people want to criticize that?

You know, even if a few of those points were unnecessary – and because the game was in doubt until late in the fourth quarter, not many of them were – who cares? Really, what is wrong with trying to make history? Don't the Raptors get paid, too?

If a baseball player hits a home run in his first three at-bats, does anyone blame him for swinging for the fences his next time up? Does anyone complain when a manager doesn't even think to take a tiring pitcher out of a no-hitter, even if it is the best move for the team to win?

When Peyton Manning is trying to set a single-season touchdown record and calls for pass plays on first-and-goal from the 1, does anyone care?

Of course not, you expect it. You demand it, even.

So why in basketball does it matter? Is it because the players are mostly black? Is it because they are prone to preening?

Is it because in basketball you have to play both offense and defense on every single possession you are in the game, and as a result your weaknesses are up for double exposure? Is it because Kobe Bryant can be rather unlikable – be it the Shaquille O'Neal thing, or the Eagle, Colo., thing, or so many other things?

Is it because there remains this "Hoosiers"-inspired purity to the game, even if coach Norman Dale would have wanted Jimmy Chitwood to keep shooting?

Maybe it is all of that above. I don't know.

I do know that back in the 1960s and '70s it wasn't like this. The gunner was celebrated. Pete Maravich, David Thompson, even Larry Bird (in the 1980s) all admittedly were selfish on some nights. It was fun. It was part of the show.

Now, no one even tries to put up big numbers. Prior to Sunday, of the top 25 highest-scoring, non-overtime games in NBA history, only one occurred after 1978 – the 1994 season finale when David Robinson scored 71 to make the case for MVP.

Why have we sucked the fun right out of the game?

Kobe Bryant scored 66.4 percent of his team's points. Wilt, in scoring 100 in his Philadelphia Warriors' 169-147 victory, managed just 59.2 percent. So maybe Kobe's performance was better, especially since he didn't enjoy Wilt's advantage of being 7-foot-1 and 275 pounds in an era of no one else being even close.

By the way, that Warriors score also should end all the other predictable talk about how nobody plays defense in the NBA anymore. Who was playing defense on Wilt's night?

NBA players play defense. They play a ton of defense. One of the great fallacies of basketball is the idea that college guys play harder defense than the pros. Apparently, the sight of a slow guard slapping the floor in a show of "intensity" has clouded reality.

If you think the Raptors wanted Bryant to hang 81 on them, you didn't see the game. They just couldn't stop him. They tried everything, every defender.

Kobe was that on. He was that great. It was that much fun.

Yet there will be critics who claim that 81 points in a game isn't sports, that it isn't basketball.

But if you think sending chills down fans' spines isn't sports, then you need to lighten up – and tune in Friday to see if Kobe can hang 101 on Golden State.

Dan Wetzel is Yahoo! Sports' national columnist. Dan's new book, "Runnin' Rebel: Shark Tales of 'Extra Benefits,' Frank Sinatra and Winning It All" with coach Jerry Tarkanian, is on sale now.

Holy crap !! 81 points in a non overtime game is amazing..he shot 28-46 from the floor with 7 3 pointers and 18 free throws...This guy is just unreal. Say what you want about him but lets not deny his greatness. Noone in the NBA is better. NOONE. by the way I really hate Kobe for everything he did to Shaq and talking to the cops about what Shaq does with other women, even before that i hated the way he stuck his tounge out to copy MJ but with all this said I still can see he is the best in the NBA right now...

That's a fair assessment A. :D My inbox and v-mail were full of messages from my KB hatin' buddies. They were trying to beat me to the punch before I blasted them with the "now what?!" Bottom line is he handled that snitch scenario all wrong and he's not the most personable figure in the league but that has NOTHING to do with his skills on the court and the incredible scoring tirade he's on. :thumbup:
Now, back to my hatin' buddies that refuse to at least give him that. (ha ha ha) :thumbdn:

the game was Great!! KOBE was great!!

and I almost missed it :egads: luckly ended up at TGI Fridays :thumbup: Im telling you one more consistent player and were looking to be champs !!!

Kobe is just the man on that team...He had 26 pts at Halftime, his team is losing, no one else is stepping it up, so what does he do, puts the team on his back...MVP!!!!!

less than a man, a snitch

I'd snitched on "Fat Azz Shaq" too...Punk was over weight when he was in LA, goes to the Heat and losses 25lbs to be in game shape...He says he wants to be the man, but what happens in Miami, he's second to "The Flash"... and takes the role without *****ing...what a Hypocrite....

I'd snitched on "Fat Azz Shaq" too...Punk was over weight when he was in LA, goes to the Heat and losses 25lbs to be in game shape...He says he wants to be the man, but what happens in Miami, he's second to "The Flash"... and takes the role without *****ing...what a Hypocrite....
damn you still mad at shaq b/c la cant win anymore titles without him?let it go :D

Im telling you one more consistent player and were looking to be champs !!!

Love the optimism, but champs??? Not even close. Can't see the Lakers beating the Spurs or Suns in the West. And Detroit in the East? No way.

But it is fun watching Kobe go off...just amazing.

Love the optimism, but champs??? Not even close. Can't see the Lakers beating the Spurs or Suns in the West. And Detroit in the East? No way.

But it is fun watching Kobe go off...just amazing.
Im telling you one more player !!

less than a man, a snitch
why the hate?kobe did his thing and props to him for tearing it up sick

less than a man, a snitch

Why are you hatin on KOBE ?

Love the optimism, but champs??? Not even close. Can't see the Lakers beating the Spurs or Suns in the West. And Detroit in the East? No way.

:agree: LA is barely floating above water. Now one more player and you think they could get by Detroit?? Don't they have to first prove they're better than the Clippers? Easy there fella. :nono:

thats insane!!! im a lakers fan. should had watched this game !!! kobe is a animal!!! :thumbup:

thats insane!!! im a lakers fan. should had watched this game !!! kobe is a animal!!! :thumbup:


NBA TV is gonna air it 3 more times, starting today..... :thumbup:

:agree: LA is barely floating above water. Now one more player and you think they could get by Detroit?? Don't they have to first prove they're better than the Clippers? Easy there fella. :nono:
clips are only a few games ahead.... :D watch it there buddy... pj is right we are only one player away from the next level..but to get by pistons and spurs thats gonna be VERY hard lets say
if the lakes get ron ron i bet the lakers will give them a run for there money

New York as a TEAM scored 76 points tonight