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Bryant takes aim at Raptors again

Nov 17, 2006 - 2:39 PM Toronto (2-5) at La Lakers (5-3) 10:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - The last time the Toronto Raptors visited Staples Center, Kobe Bryant made history.

The Los Angeles Lakers hope for another sensational performance from Bryant when they host the Raptors on Friday.

The reigning league scoring champion, Bryant delivered an unforgettable performance in Los Angeles' 122-104 victory over Toronto here on January 22, scoring a mind-boggling 81 points - the second-highest total in NBA history.

It was the NBA's greatest individual offensive performance aside from Chamberlain's landmark 100-point game against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962. Bryant finished 28-of-46 from the floor and 18-of-20 from the line, joining Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, David Thompson and David Robinson as the only players to reach the 70-point plateau.

After scoring 26 points in the first half, Bryant exploded for 55 after the break - four shy of Chamberlain's record for points in a half. He outscored the Raptors by 14 points after halftime.

But Bryant has struggled to rediscover last season's explosiveness after undergoing offseason knee surgery. Despite shooting nearly 52 percent from the floor this season, he is averaging just 21.2 points over his first six games.

After dropping two straight, the Lakers bounced back with a 91-81 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.

Bryant scored 21 points while Lamar Odom added 20 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists for Los Angeles, which limited Memphis to just 38 percent (28-of-73) shooting.

The Raptors, who are just 4-16 all-time against the Lakers, aim to snap a three-game skid.

Chris Bosh scored 23 points and matched a career high with 22 rebounds Tuesday, but Toronto dropped a 110-99 decision to the Golden State Warriors.

T.J. Ford added 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Raptors, who have lost the first two contests on their five-game Western Conference road trip.