Kobe Bryant approached Lakers coach Phil Jackson about guarding Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook in Tuesday night's Game 5.

Jackson said Bryant approached him and said, "I'd like to guard Westbrook."

He added: "It takes a much higher activity level (to guard Westbrook). It's every play. There's no time off on defense. It told me what his determination was, whether his knee was better or not (I don't know)."

Westbrook ended up scoring 15 points on 4-for-13 shooting as Los Angeles was victorious.

"I enjoy the challenge," Bryant said. "He's been playing sensational, and if we're going to be eliminated I don't want to go into the summer thinking I could've done something about it, so I accepted the challenge."