Kobe Bryant, often unstoppable, played at a
higher level than even he imagined possible.

The Los Angeles Lakers' star scored a phenomenal 81 points
Sunday night -- the second-highest total in NBA history -- in a
122-104 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Only Wilt Chamberlain's storied 100-point game nearly 44 years
ago ranks higher.

"Not even in my dreams," Bryant said. "That was something
that just happened. It's tough to explain. It's just one of those
things.

"It really hasn't, like, set in for me. It's about the `W,'
that's why I turned it on. It turned into something special. To sit
here and say I grasp what happened, that would be lying."

The Lakers trailed by as many as 18 points early in the third
quarter, angering Bryant.

"He was ticked off," teammate Lamar Odom said.

When asked what Bryant said at that stage, Odom replied:
"Nothing. That's when it's bad."

Bryant scored 51 points after the Raptors extended a 63-49
halftime lead to 71-53. The Lakers outscored the Raptors 38-14 to
finish the third quarter to go ahead for good.

"That was incredible, remarkable," Odom said.

Bryant, the NBA's leading scorer, left to a standing ovation
with 4.2 seconds remaining, having shot 28-of-46 from the floor,
including 7-of-13 from 3-point range, and 18-of-20 from the foul
line.

With the 18,997 fans at Staples Center chanting "MVP! MVP!"
Bryant made two free throws with 43.4 seconds remaining for his
final points. He scored 27 points in the third quarter, 28 in the
fourth.

"We are on a journey, and to put on a show like this for the
fans here in L.A. is truly something special," Bryant said. "I
grew up in front of these people, and now they are seeing me as an
older, young man."

The 27-year-old Bryant joined the Lakers out of high school, and
is in his 10th NBA season.

Chamberlain scored 100 points for Philadelphia against the New York Knicks at Hershey, Pa., on March 2, 1962, shooting 36-of-63 from the field and 28-of-32 from the foul line while playing all 48 minutes.

Chamberlain had 59 points in the second half -- the only player
with more points in a half than Bryant's 55 after halftime in this
game.

Chamberlain's second-highest total was 78 against the Lakers in
three overtimes on Dec. 8, 1961.

Michael Jordan's career high was 69 points, and only four
players had ever scored more than 70 -- Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor,
David Thompson and David Robinson.

Bryant made it five. His previous career high was 62 points
during a 112-90 victory over Dallas last month -- he sat out the
fourth quarter because of the one-sided nature of the game.

"I was just determined. I was just locked in, tuned into what
was going on out there," Bryant said. "These points tonight
mattered. We needed them. The points I put in the basket were
instrumental. It means a lot more."

Bryant raised his scoring average to an NBA-leading 35.9 points
this season.

"I never imagined I would see history like that," said Devean
George, a teammate of Bryant's with the Lakers for 6½ seasons. "I
can't tell you where that came from. He just kept attacking,
attacking, attacking -- every time he got the ball."

Bryant played nearly 42 minutes, going the entire second half
until being lifted by coach Phil Jackson.

Jackson coached Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to six
championships in the 1990s and the Lakers, with Bryant and
Shaquille O'Neal, to three more titles, from 2000-02.

"That was something to behold," Jackson said. "It was another
level. I've seen some remarkable games, but I've never seen one
like that before."

Baylor held the Lakers' previous franchise record of 71 points
at New York on Nov. 15, 1960. Lakers special assistant Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, saw that game,
too.

"Elgin's game was an incredible performance, also,"
Abdul-Jabbar said. "I don't think there's any comparison. Elgin
did it without 3-point lines. His game was attacking the hoop and
hitting jumpers inside 20 feet. Kobe's range is unreal, and he does
it his way.

"It was a real treat. His ability to shoot from long range and
also attack the hoop, split the defense and get in close for
opportunities near the basket is unique. He's made a niche for
himself, and he deserves it."

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