Game ID: 22501205
LA Clippers @ Houston Rockets
Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 29 22 29 35 115LAC 29 25 28 31 113
HOU vs LAC ScoutingHOU vs LAC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
HOU availability going into 12/01 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 6 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 17 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 30 min since (82% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 22 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 7 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 18 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 35 min since (96% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 8 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 19 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 34 min since (93% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/06 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 9 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 20 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 34 min since (92% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/11 · 4 days' restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 12/05, returns tonight: 36 min (107% of 34)
OUT Eason missed 10 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 21 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 33 min since (91% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/15 · 3 days' restOUT Eason missed 11 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 22 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 36 min since (107% of 34)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/18 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 12 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 23 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 39 min since (116% of 34)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 14 to 20 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 13 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 24 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 38 min since (113% of 34)
NEW Okogie 17 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 14 to 19 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 14 since 11/16, returns tonight: 16 min (59% of 26)
OUT Finney-Smith missed 25 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 36 min since (107% of 34)
NEW Smith Jr. 36 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 17 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 7 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 7 since 11/17, returns tonight: 6 min (25% of 22)
OUT Lopez missed 3 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 5 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Niederhäuser missed 2 since 11/28, returns tonight: 12 min (120% of 10)
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 28 min since (87% of 32)
NEW Batum 18 to 24 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 8 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Lopez missed 4 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 6 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 28 min since (88% of 32)
BACK Miller back 12/01 after 7, 6 min since (25% of 22)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/01 after 2, 12 min since (120% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 24 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 9 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Lopez missed 5 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 7 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/01 after 7, 6 min since (25% of 22)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/01 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/06 · back-to-backOUT Jones Jr. missed 10 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 2 since 12/03, out tonight
OUT Lopez missed 6 since 11/25, returns tonight: 10 min (44% of 22)
OUT Bogdanović missed 8 since 11/22, returns tonight: 23 min (116% of 20)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/01 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 25 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/11 · 4 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 11 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 3 since 12/03, out tonight
OUT Niederhäuser missed 2 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 10 min since (44% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 23 min since (116% of 20)
NEW Batum 18 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/15 · 3 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 12 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 4 since 12/03, returns tonight: 22 min (99% of 22)
OUT Niederhäuser missed 3 since 12/05, returns tonight: 4 min (36% of 10)
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 12 min since (53% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 24 min since (120% of 20)
NEW Batum 18 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/18 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 13 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/15 after 4, 22 min since (99% of 22)
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 12 min since (53% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 22 min since (112% of 20)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/15 after 3, 4 min since (36% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 24 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 14 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/15 after 4, 21 min since (96% of 22)
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 13 min since (58% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 23 min since (115% of 20)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/15 after 3, 4 min since (36% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 24 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 12/23 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 15 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Niederhäuser missed 2 since 12/18, returns tonight: 15 min (149% of 10)
BACK Miller back 12/15 after 4, 15 min since (68% of 22)
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 16 min since (72% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 22 min since (110% of 20)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 29 and Durant at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Sengun (2 straight), Eason (10 straight), Finney-Smith (21 straight). 4 days' rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 26 and Harden at 24 a game. Without Jones Jr. (11 straight), Miller (3 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and the Clippers plus-3 and the arc, Houston at 36 percent from three to the Clippers' 31. Call it Houston 119, the Clippers 109, Houston by 10.
12/01 @ UTA 125-133 — HOU notes
HOU lost 125-133. HOU shot 44% (41 of 93) to UTA's 50%, 10 of 34 from three. Durant led with 32 (10 of 25, 2 of 7 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Sengun added 31, Thompson 23. Q3 was theirs, 32-30, the deficit cut from 11 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 103-93 against them. Okogie's -15 in 9 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/03 vs SAC 121-95 — HOU notes
HOU won 121-95. HOU shot 53% (48 of 91) to SAC's 41%, 5 of 16 from three, and went to the line 24 times to SAC's 10 — 20 points from the stripe to their 5. The glass went 62-32 for them. Sengun led with 28 (11 of 20, 6 of 7 at the line); Durant added 24, Thompson 20. The hinge was Q3, 36-19: HOU came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 16, and the lead reached 26. HOU trailed 51-52 at the half and won the second half 70-43. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/05 vs PHX 117-98 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-98. HOU shot 59% (45 of 76) to PHX's 39%, 10 of 18 from three. HOU turned it over 21 times to PHX's 13, and PHX turned those into 12 steals. Thompson led with 31 (12 of 17, 6 of 6 at the line); Durant added 28, Smith Jr. 16. The hinge was Q2, 44-27: HOU came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 30. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
12/06 @ DAL 109-122 — HOU notes
HOU lost 109-122. HOU shot 51% (44 of 87) to DAL's 60%, 10 of 29 from three, and got to the line 13 times to DAL's 20. HOU turned it over 18 times to DAL's 12, and DAL turned those into 13 steals. Durant led with 27 (11 of 20, 1 of 3 from three); Smith Jr. added 22, Holiday 19. Q4 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 17 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 94-77 against them. Thompson's -14 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 vs LAC 115-113 — HOU notes
HOU won 115-113. HOU shot 46% (43 of 93) to LAC's 50%, 12 of 34 from three. The glass went 51-28 for them. Sengun led with 22 (9 of 22, 0 of 3 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Thompson added 20, Smith Jr. 18. The hinge was Q4, 35-31: HOU came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 2. HOU trailed 51-54 at the half and won the second half 64-59. Adams was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
12/15 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 119, shooting 54 percent and 42 from three, 25 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 26 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Braun (13 straight), Gordon (9 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sengun at 27 and Durant at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Eason (11 straight), Finney-Smith (22 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-12 a night and Denver minus-1 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 17 times a game to Denver's 10. Call it Denver 120, Houston 116, Houston keeping it close.
12/18 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 24 and Bey at 16 a game. Without Jordan (23 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 28 and Durant at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 15 a night. Without Eason (12 straight), Finney-Smith (23 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-15 a night and New Orleans plus-0 and the arc, Houston at 40 percent from three to New Orleans's 30. Call it Houston 119, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.
12/20 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 117, shooting 54 percent and 42 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Murray at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Braun (15 straight), Gordon (11 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 28 and Durant at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Eason (13 straight), Finney-Smith (24 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-12 a night and Denver minus-4 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 18 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Denver 122, Houston 116.
12/21 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 27 free throws a game; DeRozan at 19 and Raynaud at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without LaVine (2 straight), Sabonis (14 straight), Plowden (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Eason (14 straight), Finney-Smith (25 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-12 a night and Sacramento minus-2 and the arc, Houston at 41 percent from three to Sacramento's 30. Call it Houston 119, Sacramento 114.
12/01 @ MIA 123-140 — LAC notes
LAC lost 123-140. LAC shot 45% (43 of 96) to MIA's 53%, 9 of 29 from three, and went to the line 35 times to MIA's 12 — 28 points from the stripe to their 10. Leonard led with 36 (12 of 21, 3 of 6 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Zubac added 16, Dunn 12. Q4 was theirs, 41-26, the deficit cut from 32 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 114-82 against them. Harden's -39 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/03 @ ATL 115-92 — LAC notes
LAC won 115-92. LAC shot 49% (44 of 89) to ATL's 40%, 10 of 32 from three, and went to the line 20 times to ATL's 14 — 17 points from the stripe to their 11. The glass went 54-38 for them. Harden led with 27 (11 of 24, 5 of 14 from three); Leonard added 21, Sanders 17. The hinge was Q2, 28-20: a lead of 6 became 14, and the lead reached 25. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/05 @ MEM 98-107 — LAC notes
LAC lost 98-107. LAC shot 44% (35 of 80) to MEM's 54%, 14 of 44 from three. Leonard led with 24 (10 of 23, 2 of 9 from three); Harden added 18, Collins 16. Q1 was theirs, 33-30, but the other 3 periods went 77-65 against them. Harden's -17 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/06 @ MIN 106-109 — LAC notes
LAC lost 106-109. LAC took 17 more shots (85 to 68), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to MIN's 50%, 9 of 29 from three, and got to the line 25 times to MIN's 34. Harden led with 34 (10 of 18, 1 of 5 from three, 13 of 15 at the line); Leonard added 20, Zubac 15. Q1 was theirs, 34-22, but the other 3 periods went 87-72 against them. They led by as many as 18. Batum's -18 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 @ HOU 113-115 — LAC notes
LAC lost 113-115. LAC shot 50% (39 of 78) to HOU's 46%, 14 of 38 from three. The glass went 28-51 against them. Zubac led with 33 (13 of 14, 7 of 11 at the line); Leonard added 24, Harden 22. Q2 was theirs, 25-22, but the other 3 periods went 93-88 against them. Sanders's -12 in 9 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/15 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 25 and Harden at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Jones Jr. (12 straight), Miller (4 straight). 3 days' rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edey at 18 and Wells at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Jackson (8 straight), Small (15 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-7 a night and the Clippers minus-3 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 17 times a game to the Clippers' 13. Call it the Clippers 115, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
12/18 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 106, shooting 56 percent and 46 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Hartenstein (6 straight), Joe (3 straight). 4 days' rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Harden at 23 and Leonard at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Jones Jr. (13 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 46 percent from three to the Clippers' 34 and the glass, where OKC has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-1. Call it OKC 121, the Clippers 106, OKC by 15.
12/20 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 0-5 over their last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 22 and Harden at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Jones Jr. (14 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 32 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and James at 26 a game. Without Reaves (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 32 free throws a game to the Clippers' 22 and the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 17 times a game to the Lakers' 13. Call it the Lakers 116, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/23 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 22 a game. Without Jones Jr. (15 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Finney-Smith (26 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and the Clippers plus-0 and the arc, Houston at 42 percent from three to the Clippers' 35. Call it Houston 116, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LACBB B. Bogdanović
BL B. Lopez
BO Bogdanovic
IZ I. Zubac
JC J. Collins
JH J. Harden
KD K. Dunn
KL K. Leonard
KS K. Sanders
NB N. Batum
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
JG J. Green
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
LAC/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
HOUSTON -- — Amen Thompson’s three-point play with 17.2 seconds left helped the Houston Rockets to a 115-113 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.
Thompson tipped in Alperen Sengun’s miss to break a 110-110 tie, was fouled by Kris Dunn and hit the and-1 free throw. The putback came off Houston's third offensive rebound of the possession and 21st of the night.
Thompson made 8 of 12 from the field and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
The Rockets (16-6) outrebounded the Clippers 51-28 and avoided losing back-to-back games for the first time since October 24.
Los Angeles had two possessions with a chance to tie the game, but Kawhi Leonard was called for an offensive foul, and Nicolas Batum committed a violation on an inbounds pass.
Sengun led the Rockets with 22 points and 15 rebounds, five assists and four steals, while Jabari Smith Jr added 18 points.
Kevin Durant scored 13 of his 16 points in the third quarter. He started the game 1 of 7 from the field but knocked down his next four shots.
Ivica Zubac matched a season-high with 33 points for the Clippers. He shot 13 of 14 and added seven rebounds.
Leonard scored 24 points in a season-high 41 minutes, and James Harden chipped in 22 points against the team he starred with for over eight seasons.
The loss is the Clippers (6-19) third in a row and eighth in nine games.