Christmas was not kind to the Los Angeles Lakers, who dropped their third game in a row after the Houston Rockets scored 119-96 road victory.
Third-year pro Amen Thompson led the way for Houston with 26 points. Kevin Durant was right behind him with 25. All three of the Rockets’ other starters also scored in double figures as the team shot 53% from the field.
Houston dominated the boards, outrebounding the Lakers 48-25.
Luka Doncic was Los Angeles’ leading scorer with 25 points. LeBron James had 18 points.
Rockets vs. Lakers highlights
END Q3: Rockets 92, Lakers 74
With Austin Reaves out, the Lakers are struggling to keep pace with Houston’s high-octane offense. The Rockets have extended their 12-point halftime lead to 18 points.
Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant have combined for 43 points.
Austin Reaves exits
Reaves has officially been ruled out of the remainder of Thursday night’s game against the Houston Rockets with left calf soreness. Reaves finished the night with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting. He played 15 minutes.
Reaves returned from a three-game absence to help the Lakers play the Suns on Tuesday, Dec. 23 after dealing with a calf injury.
1st Half stats
Houston Rockets
Field Goals: 25/43 (58.1%)
3-pointers: 5/10 (50%)
Rebounds: 22
Blocks: 1
Turnovers: 8
Los Angeles Lakers
Field Goals: 20/38 (52.6%)
3-pointers: 6/19 (31.6%)
Rebounds: 15
Blocks: 2
Turnovers: 10
END Q2: Rockets 63, Lakers 53
The Rockets and Lakers were locked in a dead heat after the first quarter, now after 24, Los Angeles has gained two points on their Texas foes.
Much of the Lakers’ scoring in the second quarter came from Luka Doncic, who tallied just four points in the first, but now leads the Lakers in scoring with 15 after 24 minutes.
Still, despite the burst from the Slovenian, both Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant have scored more, leading the game with 16 points apiece for Houston.
Lakers storming back
A Jared Vanderbilt 3-pointer has Los Angeles within four points, trailing 48-44.
After falling behind big early, it seemed like the Lakers would get blown out, slowly watching their deficit grow against a deeper Houston squad. However, Los Angeles has hit a stretch of stellar shooting, allowing it to claw back even as it struggles on the glass. Houston still leads, but L.A. isn’t going down easy.
End Q1: Rockets 37, Lakers 25
After a very slow start, the Lakers started to find their footing, but it wasn’t enough to catch the Rockets. The Lakers have long been considered a team with a strong offense, but a weak defense, and that was on full display in the first quarter. Houston is shooting a stellar 62.5% from the field thus far, including 4/7 from three-point range.
Rockets getting everyone involved
Less than halfway through the first quarter, the Rockets have burst out to a 10-point lead. Shockingly, it hasn’t been just one Rocket with the hot hand, though. No, the Rockets have been a textbook definition of team basketball with each of their starters already tallying a bucket. Houston leads 18-8.
Lakers starting lineup
The Los Angeles Lakers will start LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, and Deandre Ayton. The Lakers have a 4-2 record this season with this starting lineup.
Rockets starting lineup
The Houston Rockets will start Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun against the Lakers.
This is the first game of the season the Rockets will play with this starting lineup.
Lakers injury news
Both Jaxson Hayes and Gabe Vincent will be out for Thursday’s game. Luka Doncic and Rui Hachimura are both labeled as questionable for the showdown.
Doncic is dealing with a leg issue. He missed the Lakers’ last game against the Phoenix Suns. Hachimura, meanwhile, has a groin injury, and also missed the game against Phoenix due to the injury as well as the game prior on Dec. 20 against the Clippers.
Rockets injury news
The Rockets have two questionable players for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers — center Alperen Sengun and forward Jae’Sean Tate.
Sengun is dealing with left calf tightness. He has not missed a game since Houston’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 6.
Tate, meanwhile, is struggling with a bruise on his left wrist. Tate participated in the Rockets’ most recent game, playing nearly 14 minutes in Houston’s loss to the Clippers. However, he has missed four of the Rockets’ last six games.
What time is Rockets vs. Lakers Christmas game today?
The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Houston Rockets in one of five NBA on Christmas games on Thursday, Dec. 25 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT). The game will take place at Crypto.com in Los Angeles.
Watch NBA Christmas games with Fubo
How to watch Rockets vs. Lakers NBA Christmas game: TV, live streaming
The game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets will be broadcast nationally on ABC and ESPN and can be live streamed via Fubo.
Date: Dec. 25, 2025
Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
Location: Crypto.com (Los Angeles, California)
TV: ABC, ESPN
Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, Fubo
Rockets vs. Lakers odds
The Houston Rockets are favored to beat the Los Angeles Lakers, according to DraftKings odds as of Dec. 24.
Line: Rockets -2.5
Over/under: 230.5