LA Times · Jan 22, 2016
Remembering the night Kobe Bryant scored 81 points
Kobe Bryant looks up at the Staples Center scoreboard and his 81-point total during the final seconds of a 122-104 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006.Time flies when you score 81 points.
Friday marks the 10-year anniversary of Kobe Bryant's outburst against the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center. It was historic, remarkably efficient and it happened at a time when Bryant had very little help on a mediocre Lakers team.
Smush Parker played alongside him in the backcourt (this was bad) and former No. 1 overall pick Kwame Brown was trying to revive an already stumbling career (he wouldn't).
