Kobe Bryant went 18-of-20 from the free‑throw line in his 81‑point game against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006.

Quick Scoop: Kobe’s Free Throws in the 81-Point Game

  • Total points: 81 vs. Raptors (Lakers comeback win).
  • Free throws made: 18.
  • Free throws attempted: 20.
  • Free-throw percentage that night: 90%. (18 ÷ 20).

Kobe later joked (but also meant it) that what really irritated him from that legendary night was the two free throws he missed, because they snapped a long streak of consecutive makes at the line.

“I was mad about the two free throws I missed” – Kobe reflecting on the 81-point game, highlighting how obsessed he was with perfection even in his greatest scoring performance.

Why those free throws mattered

  • They padded his scoring without burning clock, crucial in a comeback.
  • Constant pressure at the rim forced fouls and opened space for his jumpers.
  • The near-perfect 18-of-20 shows how locked-in his mechanics and focus were that night.

Mini timeline of that night

  1. Raptors lead big early; Lakers look flat.
  1. Kobe heats up in the third quarter, attacking the basket and drawing foul after foul.
  1. In the fourth, every trip to the line feels inevitable—18 makes later, he’s at 81 points and the Lakers have stormed back.

SEO notes / key phrase hit:
If you searched “how many free throws kobe 81,” the answer is 18 made out of 20 attempts, one of the keys to that historic 81‑point explosion.

TL;DR: Kobe hit 18 of 20 free throws in the 81-point game, and those missed two still bothered him afterward.

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