Game ID: 22500012
Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Lakers
Thursday, December 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 25 28 21 22 96HOU 37 26 29 27 119
HOU @ LAL ScoutingHOU @ LAL 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.
LAL availability going into 12/14 · 3 days' restOUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 2 since 12/07, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 40 min since (112% of 36)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 28 min since (96% of 29)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 3 min since (19% of 17)
LAL availability going into 12/18 · 3 days' restOUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 12/07, returns tonight: 5 min (49% of 11)
OUT Kleber missed 3 since 12/07, returns tonight: 19 min (184% of 10)
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 39 min since (110% of 36)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 30 min since (102% of 29)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 9 min since (54% of 17)
LAL availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Reaves missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 39 min since (110% of 36)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 29 min since (99% of 29)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 14 min since (86% of 17)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 5 min since (49% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 19 min since (184% of 10)
LAL availability going into 12/23 · 2 days' restOUT Reaves missed 3 since 12/14, returns tonight: 22 min (62% of 35)
OUT Ayton missed 2 since 12/18, returns tonight: 27 min (100% of 27)
OUT Vincent missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 35 min since (99% of 36)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 30 min since (100% of 29)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 18 min since (105% of 17)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 14 min since (124% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 17 min since (169% of 10)
LAL availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 2 since 12/20, returns tonight: 28 min (93% of 30)
OUT Vincent missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 12/23 after 3, 22 min since (62% of 35)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 30 min since (101% of 29)
BACK Ayton back 12/23 after 2, 27 min since (100% of 27)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 18 min since (169% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 15 min since (141% of 10)
NEW Vanderbilt 17 to 22 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 12/28 · 2 days' restOUT Vincent missed 4 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 12/23 after 3, 18 min since (52% of 35)
BACK Hachimura back 12/25 after 2, 28 min since (93% of 30)
BACK Ayton back 12/23 after 2, 32 min since (116% of 27)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 18 min since (169% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 12 min since (121% of 10)
NEW Vanderbilt 17 to 23 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 2 since 12/25, returns tonight: 18 min (101% of 18)
BACK Reaves back 12/23 after 3, 18 min since (52% of 35)
BACK Hachimura back 12/25 after 2, 27 min since (91% of 30)
BACK Ayton back 12/23 after 2, 31 min since (114% of 27)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 20 min since (182% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 13 min since (123% of 10)
NEW Vanderbilt 17 to 24 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 1/02 · 2 days' restOUT Reaves missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 12/25 after 2, 27 min since (91% of 30)
BACK Ayton back 12/23 after 2, 30 min since (109% of 27)
BACK Hayes back 12/30 after 2, 18 min since (101% of 18)
NEW LaRavia 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Vanderbilt 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Smith Jr. 11 to 23 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Reaves missed 3 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Hachimura missed 2 since 12/30, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Ayton back 12/23 after 2, 29 min since (105% of 27)
BACK Hayes back 12/30 after 2, 21 min since (115% of 18)
NEW LaRavia 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Vanderbilt 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Smith Jr. 11 to 21 min over the last 4
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
HOU availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 26 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 37 min since (110% of 34)
BACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 16 min since (59% of 26)
NEW Durant 36 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 17 to 28 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 27 since 10/21, returns tonight: 13 min (81% of 16)
BACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 17 min since (64% of 26)
NEW Okogie 17 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restBACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 20 min since (76% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 13 min since (81% of 16)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restBACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 20 min since (77% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 15 min since (90% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 12/27, returns tonight: 34 min (100% of 34)
BACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 22 min since (83% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 15 min since (93% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restBACK Sengun back 1/01 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 15 min since (93% of 16)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 31 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and James at 26 a game. Without Hachimura (2 straight), Vincent (3 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Sengun at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Finney-Smith (27 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 41 percent from three to the Lakers' 30 and the line, where the Lakers take 31 free throws a game to Houston's 24. Call it Houston 119, the Lakers 118, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/14 @ PHX 116-114 — LAL notes
LAL won 116-114. LAL shot 43% (38 of 88) to PHX's 49%, 7 of 37 from three, and went to the line 43 times to PHX's 25 — 33 points from the stripe to their 21. The glass went 54-37 for them. Dončić led with 29 (7 of 25, 2 of 14 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); James added 26, Ayton 20. The hinge was Q3, 24-15: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 20.
12/18 @ UTA 143-135 — LAL notes
LAL won 143-135. LAL shot 53% (49 of 93) to UTA's 52%, 13 of 39 from three, and got to the line 39 times to UTA's 47. LAL turned it over 7 times to UTA's 13. Dončić led with 45 (14 of 28, 4 of 12 from three, 13 of 16 at the line); James added 28, Smart 17. The hinge was Q4, 41-29: LAL came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 8. LAL trailed 73-78 at the half and won the second half 70-57. Kleber was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/20 @ LAC 88-103 — LAL notes
LAL lost 88-103. LAL took 8 more shots (88 to 80), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to LAC's 42%, 6 of 38 from three. LAL turned it over 11 times to LAC's 16. James led with 36 (15 of 28, 3 of 7 from three); LaRavia added 12, Dončić 12. Q4 was theirs, 27-23, the deficit cut from 19 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 80-61 against them. LaRavia's -23 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ PHX 108-132 — LAL notes
LAL lost 108-132. LAL shot 48% (39 of 81) to PHX's 59%, 12 of 32 from three, and went to the line 29 times to PHX's 20 — 18 points from the stripe to their 18. L. James led with 23 (7 of 14, 3 of 5 from three, 6 of 11 at the line); Reaves added 17, Smart 14. Q4 was theirs, 22-20, the deficit cut from 26 to 24, but the other 3 periods went 112-86 against them. Vanderbilt's -28 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 vs HOU 96-119 — LAL notes
LAL lost 96-119. LAL shot 51% (39 of 77) to HOU's 53%, 11 of 30 from three, and got to the line 11 times to HOU's 19. The glass went 25-48 against them. Dončić led with 25 (9 of 17, 3 of 8 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); L. James added 18, Reaves 12. Q2 was theirs, 28-26, the deficit cut from 12 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 93-68 against them. L. James's -33 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/28 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 28 from three, 29 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and James at 26 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Vincent (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; DeRozan at 24 and Westbrook at 19 a game. Without LaVine (5 straight), Sabonis (17 straight), Plowden (19 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 34 percent from three to the Lakers' 28. Call it the Lakers 119, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/30 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and James at 26 a game. Without Vincent (5 straight), Hayes (2 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Cunningham at 23 and Duren at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-7 a night and the Lakers minus-3 and the defense, Detroit allowing 112 a night to the Lakers' 118. Call it Detroit 116, the Lakers 115, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/02 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 25 and James at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Reaves (2 straight), Vincent (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Morant at 26 and Jackson Jr. at 20 a game. Without Williams Jr. (6 straight), Mashack (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Memphis at 39 percent from three to the Lakers' 31 and the glass, where Memphis has been minus-1 a night and the Lakers minus-6. Call it Memphis 117, the Lakers 116, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/04 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 120, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and James at 23 a game. Without Reaves (3 straight), Hachimura (2 straight), Vincent (7 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 123, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Morant at 24 and Jackson Jr. at 23 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Williams Jr. (7 straight), Mashack (4 straight), Prosper (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Lakers 119, Memphis 118, Memphis keeping it close.
12/18 @ NOP 128-133 — HOU notes
HOU lost 128-133 in 1 overtime. HOU took 10 more shots (107 to 97), fed by 25 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to NOP's 51%, 10 of 32 from three. HOU turned it over 18 times to NOP's 12, and NOP turned those into 15 steals. The glass went 58-41 for them. Durant led with 32 (12 of 15, 4 of 6 from three); Sengun added 28, Thompson 23. Q2 was theirs, 34-21, but the other 4 periods went 112-94 against them. They led by as many as 25.
12/20 @ DEN 115-101 — HOU notes
HOU won 115-101. HOU shot 51% (39 of 77) to DEN's 40%, 19 of 35 from three. HOU turned it over 19 times to DEN's 11, and DEN turned those into 9 steals. Durant led with 31 (8 of 14, 5 of 6 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Sheppard added 28, Smith Jr. 22. The hinge was Q2, 27-16: HOU came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 21. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/21 @ SAC 124-125 — HOU notes
HOU lost 124-125 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 48% (45 of 94) to SAC's 46%, 16 of 38 from three, and got to the line 24 times to SAC's 36. Sengun led with 28 (12 of 17, 4 of 6 at the line); Durant added 24, Thompson 18. Q2 was theirs, 37-27, but the other 4 periods went 98-87 against them. They led by as many as 14. Smith Jr.'s -20 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ LAC 108-128 — HOU notes
HOU lost 108-128. HOU took 9 more shots (86 to 77), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 50% to LAC's 55%, 9 of 30 from three, and got to the line 18 times to LAC's 27. HOU turned it over 13 times to LAC's 8. Durant led with 22 (8 of 15, 1 of 4 from three); Thompson added 19, Sengun 19. Q1 was theirs, 35-29, but the other 3 periods went 99-73 against them. Sheppard's -21 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 @ LAL 119-96 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-96. HOU shot 53% (48 of 90) to LAL's 51%, 8 of 24 from three, and went to the line 19 times to LAL's 11 — 15 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 48-25 for them. Thompson led with 26 (12 of 19); Durant added 25, Smith Jr. 16. The hinge was Q1, 37-25: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/27 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Thompson at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 128, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Garland at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Cleveland minus-2 and the defense, Houston allowing 117 a night to Cleveland's 128. Call it Houston 122, Cleveland 118, Cleveland keeping it close.
12/29 vs IND — 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 117 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Thompson at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and McConnell at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Sheppard (10 straight), Toppin (29 straight), Isa. Jackson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Indiana minus-8 and the arc, Houston at 42 percent from three to Indiana's 30. Call it Houston 121, Indiana 109, Houston by 12.
1/01 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 27 and Dëmin at 16 a game. Without Williams (2 straight), Saraf (7 straight), Martin (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Sengun (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and Brooklyn plus-0 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 104 a night to Houston's 114. Call it Houston 113, Brooklyn 112, Brooklyn keeping it close.
1/03 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Flagg at 22 and Williams at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Russell (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 54 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Thompson at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 16 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-16 a night and Dallas minus-3 and the defense, Houston allowing 108 a night to Dallas's 123. Call it Houston 118, Dallas 114, Dallas keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
DF D. Finney-Smith
JD J. Davison
JG J. Green
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
TE T. Eason
LALAR A. Reaves
AT A. Thiero
BJ B. James
DA D. Ayton
DK D. Knecht
DO Doncic
JL J. LaRavia
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
MK M. Kleber
MS M. Smart
RH R. Hachimura
HOU/LAL 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
Amen Thompson's 26 points lead Rockets to 119-96 win over Doncic and the Lakers
LOS ANGELES -- — Amen Thompson scored 26 points to lead six players in double figures and the Houston Rockets never trailed in beating Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers 117-96 on Thursday night.
Kevin Durant added 25 points and nine assists for the Rockets, who ended a two-game skid while improving to 7-7 on the road. Thompson had seven rebounds and five assists.
Doncic scored 25 points and LeBron James added 18 points for the Lakers, who fell to 25-27 in their 27th consecutive appearance on Christmas and 52nd overall in a tradition that began in 1949. They've dropped three in a row overall.
Doncic and James were a combined 4 of 11 from 3-point range. They also combined for nine of the Lakers' 16 turnovers. Doncic returned after missing a loss at Phoenix after injuring his left leg in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last weekend.
James and Durant squared off in the highest-scoring matchup in NBA history. No two opposing players ever entered a game with more combined career points.
Alperen Sengun had 12 rebounds in helping the Rockets dominate the boards, 48-25. He had as many as the Lakers' entire starting lineup combined.
The Rockets led by 14 points in the first quarter and were up 63-53 at halftime, when James had just eight points. Durant and Thompson had 16 each in the half.
Houston opened the third with an 18-5 run that extended its lead to 23.
The Lakers got no points from starter Rui Hachimura while losing starter Austin Reaves to a sore left calf. He had 12 points and didn't return after halftime.