Kobe scores 81, the second-highest total in NBA history

January 22, 2006
Staples Center
Los Angeles, CA

Toronto Raptors (14-27) - 104 pts
Los Angeles Lakers (22-19) - 122 pts

In the 62-year history of the National Basketball Association, only one player scored more points in a single game than Kobe Bryant did in front of a euphoric Staples Center crowd. His incredible 81-point explosion was eclipsed only by Wilt Chamberlain's untouchable 100-point game 46 years ago.

Chamberlain touched the century-mark for Philadelphia, playing against the New York Knicks at Hershey, PA, on March 2, 1962. He shot 36-of-63 from the field and 28-of-32 from the foul line in 48 minutes of play.

Bryant, the league's leading scorer, scored 27 points in the third quarter and 28 in the fourth, then departed the game to a rousing ovation with 4 seconds remaining. He shot 28-of-46 from the floor, including 7-of-13 on 3-pointers, and 18-of-20 from the charity stripe.

Laker great Elgin Baylor held the previous franchise record of 71 points at New York on Nov. 15, 1960. Chamberlain's second-highest scoring game was 78 against the Lakers in triple overtime on December 8, 1961. Michael Jordan's highest scoring game was 69 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 28, 1990. Before Bryant, only four players had ever scored more than 70; Chamberlain, Baylor, David Thompson and David Robinson.

Bryant's previous career high was 62 points in a 112-90 victory over Dallas on December 20, 2005, when he sat out the entire fourth quarter of the blowout win. In the record-breaking game against the Raptors, the Lakers trailed by as many as 18 points early in the third quarter, prompting Bryant's surge. He scored 51 points after the Raptors extended a 63-49 halftime lead to 71-53. The Lakers outscored the Raptors 38-14 to surge ahead in the third quarter for good. Bryant accounted for all but 15 of his team's 42 points in the third quarter, every point but three of their 31 in the fourth period.

Boxscores

Toronto Raptors

Player	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	PTS
Mike James	37	10	15	.667	0	2	.000	1	10	2	26
Chris Bosh	43	7	15	.467	4	4	1.000	8	2	0	18
Jalen Rose	43	3	11	.273	11	12	.917	5	6	1	17
Charlie Villanueva	20	6	10	.600	1	2	.500	3	0	2	13
Matt Bonner	26	5	12	.417	0	0	.000	2	0	1	12
Morris Peterson	28	2	5	.400	2	2	1.000	1	1	0	7
Jose Calderon	13	1	4	.250	2	2	1.000	1	0	0	4
Pape Sow	10	1	2	.500	2	3	.667	3	0	0	4
Joey Graham	14	1	2	.500	0	0	.000	1	1	0	3
Eric Williams	6	0	0	.000	0	0	.000	2	0	0	0
Team Totals	240	36	76	.474	22	27	.815	27	20	6	104

Los Angeles Lakers

Player	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	PTS
Kobe Bryant	42	28	46	.609	18	20	.900	6	2	3	81
Smush Parker	35	5	11	.455	2	2	1.000	2	4	3	13
Chris Mihm	30	5	8	.625	2	3	.667	8	2	0	12
Lamar Odom	43	1	7	.143	5	6	.833	10	7	0	8
Sasha Vujacic	14	1	5	.200	0	0	.000	2	0	1	3
Kwame Brown	32	1	5	.200	1	2	.500	10	1	0	3
Brian Cook	8	1	1	1.000	0	0	.000	3	1	0	2
Devin Green	0	0	0	.000	0	0	.000	0	0	0	0
Devean George	22	0	4	.000	0	0	.000	7	1	2	0
Luke Walton	14	0	1	.000	0	0	.000	3	0	0	0
Team Totals	240	42	88	.477	28	33	.848	51	18	9	122

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