Bryant (46) makes up for short roster

TORONTO -- The Lakers actually played a game Friday, as confirmed by a box score and a happy bunch of players on an otherwise frenetic day for the franchise.

Somewhere in between the news of their acquisition of Pau Gasol and another step of a nine-game trip, the Lakers pummeled the Toronto Raptors, 121-101, at Air Canada Centre.

Kobe Bryant scored 46 points on 19-for-28 shooting and moved past Elgin Baylor into third on the NBA’s all-time list with his 89th 40-point game.

Sasha Vujacic continued his recent hot streak, tying his career high with 22 points on eight-for-10 shooting, and the Lakers (29-16) had only five turnovers after committing 22 Thursday against Detroit.

They did it without Kwame Brown, who was sent to Memphis as part of the Gasol trade, and Luke Walton, who sat out a second consecutive game because of a right hip pointer.

Ronny Turiaf started at center and Valdimir Radmanovic started in place of Walton, and it all seemed to make sense by the time it was done.

Bryant dunked numerous times, springing past the Raptors (25-21) again and again. After one dunk, he spread his arms and glided across the court like an airplane, a sequence he hadn’t shown since last season.

“I think what gave us a little extra pop was the fact we were playing with eight guys,” he said. “We were really undermanned and we understood that this was a game we had to get. With that being said, I think everybody is a little bit excited about the great opportunity we have in front of ourselves.”

Lamar Odom, who airballed a 19-footer in the final seconds of the Lakers’ 90-89 loss to the Pistons, responded with 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists against the Raptors.

Everything rolled the right way for the Lakers, including a pass from Jordan Farmar to Radmanovic that slipped out of Radmanovic’s grip and into the net after rolling around the rim.

It had been that kind of a day, followed by that kind of game.

The Lakers signed center DJ Mbenga to another 10-day contract Friday. He averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in four games during his first 10-day contract. The Lakers must decide at the end of this contract whether to keep him for the rest of the season.

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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com