<Tr> <Th> Western Finals </Th> <Td> Lakers defeated Nuggets, 4--2 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <2008 NBA Finals 2010> </Td> </Tr> <P> The 2009 NBA Finals was the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s championship series for the 2008--09 season . The best - of - seven playoff was contested between the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers (who were also the defending Western Conference champions), and the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic . The Lakers defeated the Magic, four games to one, to win the franchise's 15th NBA championship . The 63rd edition of the championship series was played between June 4 and June 14 and was broadcast on U.S. television on ABC . </P> <P> The Lakers earned their berth into the playoffs by winning the Pacific Division . The Magic won the Southeast Division to earn their berth . The Lakers reached the NBA Finals by defeating the Utah Jazz in the best - of - seven Western Conference First Round, the Houston Rockets in the best - of - seven Western Conference Semifinals, and the Denver Nuggets in the best - of - seven Western Conference Finals . The Magic reached the NBA Finals by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in the best - of - seven Eastern Conference First Round, the defending champion Boston Celtics in the best - of - seven Eastern Conference Semifinals, and the league best Cleveland Cavaliers in the best - of - seven Eastern Conference Finals . The NBA Finals were staged under a 2--3--2 rotation, with the Lakers holding home - court advantage as they had a better regular season record than the Magic . </P>

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