5. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Toronto Raptors, 2/12/12
As if 81 points weren’t enough. Six years after humbling the Toronto Raptors for a career-high, he’d sting them one more time.
After a loss in Madison Square Garden to the New York Knicks, Kobe and the Lakers headed north of the border for a clash with DeMar DeRozan and the Raptors. Toronto held a four-point lead with a minute left before Kobe peeped up at the clock and rose for a 3 over Linas Kleiza. Cash. On the ensuing possession, Bryant would harass Kleiza into a turnover and spark a fast break. Surprisingly, he laid it off and found a trailing Metta World Peace to give Los Angeles the lead.
Toronto would answer right back, but they left seven seconds on the clock. Way too much time and they’d pay for that. After losing DeRozan on the inbound, he’d take one dribble, and sink a pretty trademark jumper over James Johnson, and stare at the Raptors bench as he walked off. Cold. He stole that game from them late, stunning Toronto fans yet leaving them amazed.