2008-09 Season
Record: 65-17, first place in Pacific Division
The Lakers went 14-1 to open the season and were 42-10 at the All-Star break before Andrew Bynum went down with another knee injury. But it did little to slow the team as they rolled into the playoffs.
Playoffs: The Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals, but not before they were tested by Houston in a tough, seven-game Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers met Orlando in the NBA Finals, and were up, 2-1, heading into Game 4. The Magic had a five-point lead in the final minute of Game 4, but Derek Fisher made two clutch three-pointers, the first one sending the game into OT and the second one clinching the Game 4 victory. The Lakers went on to win Game 5 and win their 15th NBA title.
Kobe Bryant won NBA Finals MVP honors for the first time after scoring 32.4 points per game against Orlando.
Playoff Results
Western Conference first round
- at Lakers 113, Utah 100
- at Lakers 119, Utah 109
- at Utah 88, Lakers 86
- Lakers 108, at Utah 94
- at Lakers 107, Utah 96
Western Conference semifinals
- Houston 100, at Lakers 92
- at Lakers 111, Houston 98
- Lakers 108, at Houston 94
- at Houston 99, Lakers 87
- at Lakers 118, Houston 78
- at Houston 95, Lakers 80
- at Lakers 89, Houston 70
Western Conference finals
- at Lakers 105, Denver 103
- Denver 106, at Lakers 103
- Lakers 103, at Denver 97
- at Denver 120, Lakers 101
- at Lakers 103, Denver 94
- Lakers 119, at Denver 92
NBA Finals
- at Lakers 100, Orlando 75
- at Lakers 101, Orlando 96
- at Orlando 108, Lakers 104
- Lakers 99, at Orlando 91 (OT)
- Lakers 99, at Orlando 86
