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Lakers lose in Kobe's final game against Raptors

Xinhua, December 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant's final regular season game in Toronto ended in a 102-93 loss to Raptors in NBA action on Monday evening.

   In front of a sold-out Air Canada Center, Bryant finished with a team-high 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Bryant shot 8-for-16 from the field, the first time this season that he reached 50 percent shooting. 

   "It felt absolutely amazing, absolutely amazing", Kobe responded when asked about the positive reactions from the Toronto crowd of 20,163 fans. 

   After sitting out with three minutes remaining in the third quarter, Toronto fans began chanting "we want Kobe" in the hopes the 17-time All-Star would check back into the game.

   "When I was sitting on the bench and they started chanting, I thought they started a little too early," said Bryant. "I thought, 'give me five minutes.' " 

   Kobe would check into the game midway into the fourth quarter and score his final nine points before leaving to one final standing ovation. 

   The 37-year-old Bryant finishes his career against Toronto with a total of 891 points scored in 33 games, an average of 27.0 points per game. 

   Despite having only played 33 games, he ranks fifth in total points scored by a Toronto opponent and fourth in points per game. 

   Kobe trails Paul Pierce (1,221), LeBron James (1,196) Allen Iverson (1,129) and Ray Allen (1,120) in total points scored and Stephen Curry (30.0 points), Allen Iverson (29.7 points) and LeBron James (27.8 points) in career points per game by a Raptors' opponent. 

   The five-time NBA champion currently ranks first with five 40-plus point performances against the Raptors. 

   Bryant's game against Raptors on January 22, 2006 is likely his most memorable regular season game of his career. Kobe scored a career-high 81 points at the Staples Centre against Toronto, the second-highest total in NBA history.

   "That game holds a tremendous amount of value, more than people think," Bryant said following the game. "My grandmother, who doesn't like coming to the games because it makes her so nervous, flew out to Los Angeles."

   Kobe will potentially have one more opportunity to play in Toronto, as the city will host this year's All-Star Game. Should Kobe be voted in, Toronto fans will have one final opportunity to pay homage to the future Hall of Famer.  Endi