The Houston Rockets delivered a commanding 119–96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day at Crypto.com Arena, handing the hosts a third straight defeat.
Game Control
Houston set the tone early, shooting 62.5 percent in the opening quarter to race into a 37–25 lead. Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant led the charge as the Rockets controlled the pace from the outset.
The Lakers briefly cut the deficit in the second quarter, but Houston responded to go into halftime leading 63–53, with Thompson and Durant scoring 16 points each. The Rockets tightened their grip after the break, pushing the lead into double figures and closing the third quarter ahead 92–74.
Standout Performers
Thompson finished with 26 points, while Durant added 25. Alperen Şengün posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, as Houston dominated the boards.
For the Lakers, Luka Dončić scored 25 points, and LeBron James added 18 in his NBA-record 19th Christmas Day appearance. Austin Reaves scored 12 before exiting at halftime with calf soreness.
Despite a brief fourth-quarter push, Houston closed the game with a decisive run to seal a wire-to-wire win. The Lakers were outrebounded 48–25 and have now lost six of their last 10 games.
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