 Nyorai kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Howard akadzoka mumutambo unotevera mushure mekupotsa mitambo mitatu, asi maLakers akarasikirwa 11695 kuBoston Celtics. Vakapedza rwendo rwavo rwemugwagwa 4-3 mushure mekurasikirwa nemutambi weNBA Miami Heat. Lakers yakanga yakabatana muhafu uye yakatevera Heat nevashanu chete vachipinda muchikamu chekupedzisira, asi vakaita kutengesa masere mumaminitsi gumi ekupedzisira. Mumutambo wavo unotevera pamba, Bryant akahwina masere uye akawana mapoinzi mana chete - akaderera kubva pamutambo wemaviri-poindi mumwaka wake wechipiri 1998 - asi aive neanobatsira mapfumbamwe mukukunda timu isina kusimba yePhoenix. Mumutambo wavo wekupedzisira pamberi peAll-Star break, vakapfuurwa neClippers 150 kutanga mutambo uye vakarasikirwa 125101, vachibata mutsara wemwaka weClippers kekutanga mumakore makumi maviri kubvira 199293. VaLakers vakapinda muzororo 2529 mushure mekukunda 8 yemitambo yavo 12 yekupedzisira. Vakanga vamiririrwa paAll-Star GamenaBryant naHoward, avo vose vakanga vari vatambi vokutanga. 