Kobe-mania reigns in Lakers win over Toronto

TORONTO - 'Linsanity' may be the NBA's newest smash hit but the Kobe Bryant Show remains one of professional basketball's longest running acts.

The All-Star guard proving again he is basketball's ultimate showman as he lifted the Los Angeles Lakers to a 94-92 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday with some late game heroics.

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant has the ball swatted away by Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (L) during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Toronto, Feb 12, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

With charismatic newcomer Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks set to follow the Lakers into Toronto on Tuesday, the buzz around Sunday's matinee was very much focused on the phenomenon that has become known as 'Linsanity'.

But after Bryant came to the rescue with a jaw-dropping winner with less than four seconds to play, everyone was caught up in the grips of Kobe-mania.

"That's who he (Bryant) is," praised Lakers coach Mike Brown. "We are in a one-point game, a two-point game, the ball is going to be in his hands.

"We expect him to make the play and he did that tonight. When you have a guy like Kobe Bryant you are always going to give yourself a chance."

Recognized as one of the NBA's hardest working athletes and relentless perfectionist, Bryant is also described as one of the game's most ruthless competitors, willing do whatever it takes to win.

"Don't matter if you're in the backyard playing or on the main stage, he's going to try to take your neck off," Raptors DeMar DeRozan told reporters as he prepared to face Bryant "It don't matter where, it could be a snowy day against Eskimos. He's going to try to kill them all."

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant catches an inbound pass against Toronto Raptors small forward James Johnson (R) during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Toronto, Feb 12, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]