The Los Angeles Lakers are playing motivated basketball right now and Kobe Bryant is doing all he can to guide his team to victory proving he still has plent left in his tank to perform at a high level. As the Lakers look to make a playoff bid, Bryant stepped up big as his team trailed late and finished off the game which eventually sealed the victory.

He scored 41 points in 43 minutes played and he had a couple of big shots late in the game. Steve Blake fed Bryant who hit a three pointer from way behind the three-point line. With 5.5 seconds remaining, Bryant knocked down the perfect swish to tie the game and pushed it to overtime.

With more life, the Lakers look to put the game away. This one was tight at the end and it once again went down to the wire, Bryant, with 10.6 left saw an opening and took it to the house. By this point, he had the Raptors' so focused on the perimeter that Bryant was able to find a wide open lane. The dunk gave the Lakers a two-point lead and it remained that way as the score finished 119-117 in their favor.

[CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF KOBE DUNKING for the WIN]

For the Lakers, it's another late-game heroics performed by Bryant aka Black Mamba aka Vino. It can't come at a better time since the Lakers continue to play short-handed basketball as Pau Gasol is still out with an injury. 

With the win, the Lakers pull .5 games behind the Utah Jazz who are struggling mildly after losing three consecutive games. While the Lakers are 7-3 in their last 10 games, the Jazz are 4-6. 

Look for Bryant to continue performing his heroics as he looks to charge the Lakers into the playoffs.