Kobe Bryant’s top 100 games: No. 62
The 2012-13 season was a chaotic one for the Los Angeles Lakers, as great expectations turned into great frustration.
They had brought in Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in the hopes of making one more title run in Kobe Bryant’s twilight years, but a massive rash of injuries had them in danger of missing the playoffs.
On March 8, with their record at a dismal 31-31, they hosted the Toronto Raptors, a team that had a poor record. Yet the Lakers found themselves down by 15 at one point.
Bryant was mad. Although he was also tired and banged up after all of his team’s struggles all year, he was determined to leave Staples Center with a win.
With L.A. trailing by five with two minutes left in the fourth quarter, he hit three straight 3-pointers, including a seemingly impossible one with 5.5 seconds remaining, to force overtime.
In the extra period, the Black Mamba delivered Toronto the fatal bite by driving the lane and dunking with 10.6 seconds left for a 118-116 Lakers win.
He finished with 41 points, six rebounds and 12 assists.
With Bryant literally giving everything he had, the Lakers sneaked their way into the playoffs. Unfortunately, he had nothing left. He tore his Achilles in the 80th contest of the season.
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