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TORONTO -- Kobe Bryant didnt need a huge game to dismantle the Toronto Raptors, just one good look with a few seconds left on the clock. Rob Gronkowski Super Bowl Jersey Authentic . The Lakers superstar drained a long fadeaway jumper from the baseline with 4.2 seconds to play Sunday to lift Los Angeles to a 94-92 victory over the Raptors. The Lakers victory spoiled an excellent afternoon for Jose Calderon, who scored a career-high 30 points for Toronto (9-20), and came after the Raptors had battled back from an 18-point deficit. "Thats his instinct, especially late in the game, thats why you really cant have a close game," Torontos DeMar DeRozan said of the Lakers star who famously dropped 81 points on the Raptors back in 2006. Linas Kleiza added 15 points, Leandro Barbosa finished with 12 and DeRozan doled out a career-high seven assists in what was very nearly the Raptors second consecutive big upset, coming two days after Toronto beat the Boston Celtics. The games final few seconds drew angry boos from the crowd of 19,311 at Air Canada Centre -- just shy of a sellout -- after Rasual Butler tried to call a timeout on Torontos possession with 3.6 seconds left. Officials ruled Butler didnt signal for the timeout before the allowable five seconds to inbound the ball, giving possession to the Lakers. Raptors coach Dwane Casey, who was also hollering for a timeout from the bench, was livid with the call, but bit his tongue after the game for fear of being fined by the league. "I like my money, what little money I make I like it, so Im not going to comment on it," said Casey. "Its a tough call." Bryant said the refs made the right call. "I wasnt surprised because it was five seconds," Bryant said. "I didnt go to college but I can count. It was five seconds, good defence on our part." The Lakers galloped out to an 18-point first-quarter lead in what looked like the beginning of a long afternoon for the Raptors and their fans. But Toronto chipped away at L.A.s lead to make a game of it, and trailed just 73-67 heading into the fourth quarter. Calderons second of back-to-back three-pointers with 3:13 left pulled the Raptors even at 84-84. Ed Davis then slammed home a huge dunk, and Kleiza scored on a hook shot to put Toronto up 88-84 with 2:11 to go, bringing the crowd to its feet. The fans didnt sit down over the final thrilling two minutes that saw Bryant drain a three, then feed Metta World Peace -- formerly Ron Artest -- for a basket to put the Lakers up by one with 31 seconds to play. Calderon then connected on a long jump shot with 17 seconds left before Bryant, taking an inbounds pass from World Peace, stepped back to sink what would be the winning basket from the baseline in the dying seconds. "Its tough, its always tough to lose a close game like that when youve dug yourself out of a hole," Casey said. "I was proud how we dug ourselves out, but not happy with how we dug the hole. "Two great efforts against two of the top teams in the league." Calderons previous career-high of 27 points came almost four years ago to the day -- Feb. 11, 2008 versus San Antonio. The Raptors guard, however, shrugged off his performance that came two nights after he dished out 14 assists, with no turnovers, against Boston. "It doesnt matter, we lost so I dont care," Calderon said. "Its tough, when we had a chance to beat another great team like L.A. But we couldnt today so weve got to grab the positive part, we can compete against everybody, weve got to believe we can do it." The game was the third in a tough seven-game homestand for Toronto. The New York Knicks are in town Tuesday, followed by the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Pau Gasol added 16 points and 17 rebounds, while Andrew Bynum added 14 points for the Lakers (16-12), who were coming off a loss on Friday to overnight phenom Jeremy Lin and the Knicks. The Lakers led 34-19 after the first quarter as the Toronto offence shot just 30 per cent from the field. The Raptors shot 67 per cent in the second and James Johnson went coast-to-coast for a driving dunk with less than a second left in the half to cut the Lakers lead to 54-46 at the break. Calderon padded his point total with seven in the third as the Raptors cut the Lakers lead to three points on three separate occasions before the Lakers went up 73-67 with a quarter left to play. NOTES: Torontos Andrea Bargnani has begun pool workouts to rehabilitate his injured calf muscle. "His new nickname is Flipper," Casey joked before the game. Bargnani will increase his workload over the next week, but Casey said the team was taking a cautious approach to his return. Bargnani sat for the 15th time in 17 games Sunday. ... Jerryd Bayless sat his second consecutive game with an ankle injury. ... Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Dion Phaneuf and goalie James Reimer had courtside seats. Former actor Emmanuel Lewis was also at the game. Rob Gronkowski Super Bowl Jersey Camo . Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema scored two goals each Wednesday night in a 6-1 rout of Schalke in the first leg of their second-round matchup. "We played a very, very good match," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "We got well into the match, scored two early goals and that opened the game and left us able to counter and to use the speed of our players. Rob Gronkowski Super Bowl Jersey White . -- The Buffalo Sabres got the lead for a change, and held onto it thanks to a stellar performance in goal by Jhonas Enroth.GOLD COAST, Australia -- Adam Scott took advantage of easier morning conditions Friday to shoot a 4-under-par 67 and take a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Australian PGA championship. Scott was at 10-under 132, while fellow Australian David McKenzie was in second after a 69 at Royal Pines. American Rickie Fowler, who began the day with a two-stroke lead, holed out with his approach on the firrst hole for an eagle, but things got progressively more difficult for him in swirling afternoon winds. Tom Brady Patriots Super Bowl Jersey. He finished with a 72, tied for third, three strokes behind Scott. Scott was honoured Friday with "Green Day" as spectators and many fellow players wore something green to commemorate Scotts playoff victory at the Masters in April; the first Australian to win the green jacket. cheap jerseyscheap jerseys from china ' ' ' |
