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Kobe hopes for another offensive explosion vs. Raptors

Feb 4, 2009 - 11:14 AM LA Lakers (38-9) at Toronto (19-31), 7:00 p.m. EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant has the chance to build off his recent offensive explosion against the team that yielded his biggest one.

Seeking another strong effort, Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers aim for their fourth consecutive victory when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.

In Monday's 126-117 triumph over the New York Knicks, Bryant poured in 61 points to break Madison Square Garden's record of 60 - set by Bernard King on December 25, 1984 - and help Los Angeles weather the storm of Andrew Bynum's absence.

Bynum is expected to miss eight-to-12 weeks after tearing the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, and the Lakers will count on Bryant to keep them afloat.

That might come rather easily against Toronto for Bryant, who netted a career-high 81 points against the Raptors on January 22, 2006. That clip was the second-highest in league history and helped Los Angeles cruise to a 122-104 win.

The Raptors have lost five of their last six at home and three straight overall - including Tuesday's 101-83 setback to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jose Calderon scored just two points on 1-of-9 shooting while Chris Bosh had 29 and Jermaine O'Neal 20 as Toronto fell for the 10th time in 13 contests.