Remembering Kobe Bryant's iconic 81-point eruption vs. Raptors in 2006

Looking back on Kobe Bryant's dominant performance against the Toronto Raptors, in which the Los Angeles Lakers legend dropped a career-high 81 points.



Sportsnet is honouring the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant, starting with a re-airing of his iconic, 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors today at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet ONE. Our remembrance continues next week with a showing of his final game followed by the documentary, Kobe Bryant: Through The Years, on Jan. 26 starting at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet ONE.



Fifteen years ago today, Kobe Bryant dropped an historic 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, helping his Los Angeles Lakers to a 122-104 victory.

Never saw the game live or maybe you just want to re-live it? You can watch Bryant’s iconic performance Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet ONE.

Nothing could stop Bryant on that day as the Raptors sent double- and triple-teams his way and none of it mattered. He was breathtakingly efficient and in the zone like no other player has ever been, going 28-of-46 (60.9 per cent) from the field, 7-of-13 (53.8 per cent) from deep and 18-of-20 from the free-throw line.

And what was, perhaps the most astounding stat from Bryant’s most famous game played was despite an obscenely high usage rate of 56.8, he only turned the ball over three times and was a plus-25 for the game. So even though he was “hogging” the ball, it was all for the sake of a Lakers victory.

Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others tragically lost their lives in a helicopter accident last year on Jan. 26.

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