LOS ANGELES — Phil Jackson was about three questions into Wednesday's pregame media session — all of which had dealt with the health and well-being of Kobe Bryant — when he paused and made the obvious observation: "It's a Kobe Watch night, huh, for you guys?" The equally obvious response is that, when it comes to Lakers games, they're all Kobe Watch nights to one degree to another.

Game 5 of the Lakers' second-round series with Utah, though, was clearly one of those nights when the Kobe Watch was going to be the story — for better or worse — regardless of statistics, outcome or competing storylines, whatever their strength or merit. With Bryant dealing with back problems that began during Game 4, everyone was on the Back Track, wondering if Bryant would be hampered or heroic.

And so, when Bryant came out and scored on the Lakers' first two possessions, providing a quick 5-0 lead, the Kobe Watchers who have come to expect maximum drama under duress shouted, or at least thought, "Aha!" On the other hand, as Bryant's man on defense, Ronnie Brewer, scored Utah's first eight points on three dunks and a layup, they may just have quickly groaned or thought, "Uh-oh."

As it turned out, the first impulse was the right one, although not because this turned into one of those Kobe Games, the ones that have people calling and texting their friends.

This was not Michael Jordan overcoming the flu for 38 points against the Jazz in the 1997 Finals. It wasn't Bryant playing through a sprained ankle to score 28, including the game-winning basket in overtime, in Game 4 of the 2000 Finals at Indiana.

Instead, the Lakers' 111-104 win — giving them a 3-2 series lead and a chance to close out the Jazz on Friday in Salt Lake City — was a case of Bryant in context, Bryant doing what he could and what his team needed. He finished with 26 points, six rebounds, seven assists — and the win.

Jackson had expressed confidence beforehand that Bryant would "figure out what he has to do to help us in this game," and so he did. That didn't mean dominating the game. It wasn't necessary.

Because, if this game illustrated Bryant's ability to work within his limitations, it also underlined how solid a team he has around him, making it easier to find a way to do that work.

From the recently invisible Vladimir Radmanovic (10 points in the first quarter, 15 overall) to the recently criticized Pau Gasol (21 points, including a huge putback basket with 20.5 seconds left to give the Lakers a five-point margin, along with six rebounds and eight assists) to the Swiss Army Knife of the Lakers' roster, Lamar Odom (22 points and 11 rebounds), this was a group accomplishment that no Kobe Watch could ignore or obscure.

"It was a great team effort," Bryant said. "My teammates really picked me up tonight."

Given Bryant's back issues — and the knowledge the Jazz, hardly shrinking violets when it comes to physicality, would like to pop him even more than usual because of those issues — Bryant's most impressive numbers may have come at the free-throw line.

Bryant had gone to the foul line 62 times in the first four games against Utah. Sunday, with his cranky back, he went to the line just 10 times, his low in the series. But Wednesday, he still drove to the hoop often enough to go to the free throw line 17 times (making 13) — the main reason he led the team in scoring even with a modest 6-of-10 night from the field.

"I think he took about seven good ones," Jackson said, clearly recalling a couple of ill-advised shots from distance, "so I was happy with his productivity out of 10 shots.

"He really saw the game from a perspective of how we could win the game and he could do the best for the team. I didn't think he had elevation on his shot; his shot was flat."

And so Bryant was more interested in moving the ball than shooting it.

"I just had to keep kicking it to the shooters," Bryant said, noting Gasol "made huge plays, Lamar and him both."

And, because of his reputation — and, perhaps, the point made by those two early scores — Utah had to continue to honor Bryant's potential as shooter, even if it wasn't necessarily there on this particular evening.

"When he gets the ball, people starts looking for him," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "And he finds other people who were open."

And so Bryant did what he could, and the Lakers did what they had to. This is the eighth time in their L.A. history that the Lakers have led a series 2-0 only to be tied 2-2. It's the eighth time they've won Game 5.

On the previous seven occasions, they've gone on to win the series. They'll have a chance to do that Friday in Utah.

Since Bryant admitted postgame his back was "pretty sore right now it got a little stiff," Kobe Watch will continue.

As, of course, it will as long as the Lakers keep playing, and winning.— Contact columnist David Lassen at dlassen@VenturaCountyStar.com.