20. Points 56-57; 9:27 Remaining, 4th Quarter
Kobe has been working this move for about two decades now and still it’s hard to get tired of seeing it. Defenders stand absolutely no chance when he can take them and get to work for a jump shot on the baseline and that was certainly the case here. Never mind that he already had 29 points in the second half at this point, this was a shot he was knocking down virtually every time he got this look at this point in his career.
19. Points 65-67; 5:31 Remaining, 4th Quarter
Perhaps my favorite thing about this made three from Kobe here is the fact that he basically does a step-back at the slowest speed possible just so he can have enough space to get up for a shot, not to break away from his man. He doesn’t care a bit about the contest on the shot at this point and Bryant just knocks it down with ease.
18. Points 31-32; 8:42 Remaining, 3rd Quarter
It’s only briefly seen in the clip of the shot, but these two points are amazing because Kobe is starting to feel it and he turns to run the other end of the floor before the shot is over halfway to the rim. Mind you, he was far from open when he put the shot up with a hand in his face, but he was so good on this night that he didn’t need to see it go through the net—he knew.
Next: No. 17-15