TORONTO – Boy, was Kobe Bryant happy Friday night.
Bryant poured his joy over adding a potential championship piece to the Lakers’ puzzle with the Pau Gasol trade into one of his magical games. He had 46 points on 19-of-28 shooting and numerous highlight-reel plays.
Bryant also entertained himself by chatting with Raptors fans courtside – and repeatedly stared some down after his most dazzling baskets. Bryant was backed by Sasha Vujacic’s 22 points.
The Lakers shot 55.6 percent from the field as a team despite needing Bryant to play 43 minutes and Vladimir Radmanovic 41 minutes because of injuries and no Kwame Brown or Javaris Crittenton from the Gasol trade.
QUOTABLE
Phil Jackson said to referee Joe DeRosa after he called a questionable fifth foul on Lamar Odom: “Joe, we have a nine-man team over there – with a guy hurt on the bench.”
TALK TIME
With 2:03 left and the Lakers up, 112-98, Bryant had a distracting word for Chris Bosh as Bosh shot a foul shot … and Bosh missed.
ODOM’S FUN
In the final minutes Odom produced one of his career highlight plays with a steal and a sideline dribble around Toronto’s Jose Calderon while Odom cut inside; then Odom retrieved the ball and passed behind the back for a Bryant bucket.
NEXT
Lakers at Washington, 9:30 a.m. Sunday, KCAL/9, KLAC/570
what was the word, KD?
Vinnie: Couldn’t tell, sorry. But it was spoken with Bryant just to Bosh’s right and just upon release.