An in-depth analysis of the Lakers star's 81-point game.

1:19: Bryant hits another long three. Phil Jackson awakens from his stupor.
Score: Raptors 73, Lakers 61. Kobe: 38 points.

1:20:40: Odom, the Lakers' second-best player, scores his first point of the game on a free throw, ending Bryant's run of 19 straight Lakers points.
Score: Raptors 75, Lakers, 62. Kobe: 38 points.

1:30:16: Bryant makes a long three, leading the Raptors to call a timeout. Approaching the bench, Phil Jackson, long a proponent of team play, looks faintly appalled.
Score: Raptors 78, Lakers 73. Kobe: 47 points.

1:36:39: Odom, double-teamed in the corner, flicks a long wraparound bounce pass between a defender and the baseline, finding Smush Parker for a dunk. It's the prettiest play of the night. Bryant hovers at the edge of the screen, seemingly calling for the ball.
Score: Raptors 82, Lakers 77. Kobe: 47 points.

1:42:45: Bryant jumps in the passing lane, tips the ball, chases it down, then dunks, giving the Lakers the lead for good.
Score: Lakers 87, Raptors 85. Kobe: 51 points.

Fourth Quarter

1:52:04: "M-V-P!" chant begins in earnest. Voting on the award set to commence in three months.
Score: Lakers 91, Raptors 88. Kobe: 53 points. 

2:01:43: Double-teamed, Bryant finds an open Odom, who pops a three-pointer. This represents the other 50 percent of Bryant's assist total.
Score: Lakers 100, Raptors 93. Kobe: 59 points.

2:03:58: Bryant, two points shy of a new career high, is fouled on an absurdly ill-advised three-point attempt. The announcers exult, nearly in unison, "Three free throws!"
Score: Lakers 102, Raptors 94. Kobe: 61 points.

2:05:54: Lakers assistant Tex Winter, the father of the triangle offense, speaks with Bryant during a timeout. He replies with some sort of hand gesture. Loose translation: "I do not wholeheartedly embrace the concept of your ball-sharing offense."
Score: Lakers 105, Raptors 94. Kobe: 64 points. 

2:09:05: Trapped along the baseline, Bryant is forced to call timeout. In a curious act of sportsmanship, this draws a butt slap from Toronto's Jalen Rose and a back pat from Matt Bonner, who appears to vow to never again wash his hand. In another era, Charles Oakley would've chewed off Kobe's right arm and spat it onto Dyan Cannon's lap by now.
Score: Lakers 108, Raptors 96. Kobe: 67 points.