Twenty games into the season, Kobe Bryant finally hit 50 percent from the field, but even his slick shooting couldn’t stop Toronto from a 102-93 victory and its first season series win over the Lakers in franchise history.
Bryant dropped 21 points (8-of-16), including 15 in the second half. He also did plenty of damage with the rest of his game early on, finishing with eight rebounds and four assists.
When told after the game, he responded with a grin, laugh and “Finally.”
“Tonight I was able to trust my legs a little bit more and get to the mid-range,” said Bryant, who had been shooting 29.