Despite securing the top spot in the Western Conference, the Lakers were in no way complacent. In their next four away games, the Lakers would face top pick-and-roll combinations in the league. The game of March 15th between Lakers vs Hornets would be the first test. After that, they would challenge the Rockets, Mavericks, and Jazz in turn.
On March 15th in the match-up between the Lakers and Hornets, the Lakers lost 98-108 to the Hornets in an away game.