You can probably count on both of your hands the number of times that Kobe Bryant has scored the game-winning basket and saved the Los Angeles Lakers from the jaws of defeat.
As it would turn out, Bryant would help the Lakers rally from a deficit and drain the game-winning basket with 1.9 seconds left, snapping Los Angeles 3-game losing streak and nipping the Toronto Raptors 109-107 at Staples Center.
The Raptors took a 58-50 lead going into the intermission with 15 points from Andrea Bargnani, who hit a pair of three-pointers and played his usual up-tempo game. They would maintained their lead in the third quarter with 13 points from Jarrett Jack and Pau Gasol got whistled for a technical foul on a non-call right after the end of the period.
Bryant put Los Angeles ahead on two free throws with 3:54 remaining in the game, and Derek Fisher stole Hedo Turkoglu’s pass and hit a pair of free throws with 30 seconds left to put the Lakers up by four. Lamar Odom missed a free throw moments later to allow the Raptors a chance to tie the game, and Chris Bosh nailed a three-pointer. But as happened on more than one occasion, Bryant would hit a baseline jumper, this one with 1.9 seconds left, to seal the win for Los Angeles.
Bryant led the Lakers with 32 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and a steal while Andrew Bynum poured in 22 with 6 rebounds and 2 blocks; Gasol added 17 with 9 rebounds, an assist and a block.
The Raptors were led by Bosh with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and a block while Bargnani added 21 with 8 rebounds and 2 blocks; Jack chipped in 18 with 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and a block.
Los Angeles (47-18) plays again on Friday when they visit Phoenix to take on the Suns while Toronto (32-30) flies north to Sacramento to face the Kings Wednesday night.
Posted by Stephen Rhodes
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