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Kobe Bryant: Looking back at Kobe’s top 8 game-winners

By Corey Ghee

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center on November 18, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center on November 18, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) /
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4. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 4/14/04

Four years after an iconic alley-oop helped send him to the Finals for the first time, he’d leave Portland Trail Blazers fans with another sick memory. Down three, with eight seconds to go, he’d get Ruben Patterson, another one of those designed “Kobe” stoppers, at the top of the key. Patterson initially stopped him, but even with his arms draped around him, Kobe still rose and sunk an improbably shot to go to overtime.

As impressive as that was, the Blazers held it together and the game pushed to a second overtime period. Up two, with a second left, they had the Lakers where they wanted them. All they had to do was get a stop, but Kobe Bryant just wouldn’t be denied that evening. After escaping Patterson on the inbound, Kobe would rise and sink a falling 3 over Theo Ratliff’s long outstretched arms. The shot was so cold-blooded it silenced the announcers, and the Rose Garden went nuts.

Kobe running into Shaq’s arms after stinging Portland again was fitting, it’d be one of their final times celebrating together. The Lakers won the Pacific Division title on the shot, and they’d cruise into the postseason with momentum, but that run would be halted by a scrappy Detroit Pistons team.