Kobe Bryant scored his iconic 81 points against the Toronto Raptors.

Quick Scoop

On January 22, 2006, Kobe dropped 81 in a 122–104 Los Angeles Lakers win over the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center. It was the second-highest scoring game in NBA history at the time, behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game.

Key facts about the 81-point game

  • Opponent: Toronto Raptors.
  • Final score: Lakers 122, Raptors 104.
  • Date and place: January 22, 2006, in Los Angeles.
  • Kobe’s stat line: 81 points on 28-of-46 shooting, 7-of-13 from three, 18-of-20 from the free-throw line.
  • Second half explosion: Kobe scored 55 points in the second half and outscored the entire Raptors team 55–41 after halftime.

Why this is still a trending topic

Even in 2026, Kobe’s 81 is constantly revisited in highlight reels, forum debates, and “greatest games ever” lists, especially now that Bam Adebayo has logged an 83-point game and pushed Kobe to third on the single-game scoring list. Fans often compare efficiency, era, and difficulty, and many still argue Kobe’s 81 is the most impressive modern scoring performance, regardless of raw point totals.

Mini forum-style take

“Scoring 81 on a night your team actually needed every bucket to come back and win hits different than a blowout stat-pad. That’s why Kobe’s 81 against the Raptors will always feel mythical.”

TL;DR: Kobe scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2006, in a 122–104 Lakers win in Los Angeles.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.