Kobe Bryant only took 13 shots, but he trusted his teammates in leading the Lakers to a Game 5 win.

Kobe Bryant did more than just scored 22 points in Wednesday night’s 103-94 Game 5 win as the Los Angeles Lakers took a 3-2 series lead against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals.

He got mental.

Bryant let his teammates know during the first timeout what he expected of them. He took the clipboard, started shouting instructions and that is what his teammates needed.

So what happened?

Andrew Bynum scored nine points and was a physical presence. Lamar Odom had a double-double (19 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks) and the Lakers outworked the Nuggets.

Game 6 is Friday in Denver. If the Lakers play the way they did tonight, they’ll win the series Friday.