After barely losing the NBA title the previous season, the veteran Lakers had high hopes coming into the 1969–70 season. However, 7 games into the season, Wilt Chamberlain suffered a severe knee injury and it was thought he would miss the next 10–12 months. Elgin Baylor also missed 28 games due to injury, and Jerry West missed 8. 1st draft pick Willie McCarter also missed almost the entire season. But the Lakers received key contributions from rookies Rick Roberson and Dick Garrett, and managed to battle the Atlanta Hawks for 1st place in the Western Division for most of the season. Chamberlain returned for the final few games, and while the Lakers finished 2nd in the division to Atlanta by 2 games, they were at full strength for the playoffs.

The Lakers will still adjusting to playing at full strength with Wilt Chamberlain in the lineup, and it showed in the first round of the playoffs against the upstart Phoenix Suns. After winning game 1, the Suns stunned the Lakers by winning the next three games. Facing a 3–1 series deficit, the Lakers became the 2nd team in NBA history to overcome such a deficit and win the series.

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Phoenix Suns: Lakers win series 4–3

After winning the final 3 games of the first round vs. Phoenix, the Lakers appeared to be hitting their stride. In a rematch of the 1969 Western Division finals (won by the Lakers in 5 games), the Lakers swept the Hawks, although each game was close except for game four.

(1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (2) Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers win series 4–0

(E1) New York Knicks vs. (W2) Los Angeles Lakers: Knicks win series 4–3

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Wikipedia