NBA Christmas Day preview
From Thunder–Spurs to Wolves–Nuggets and Knicks–Cavs, which NBA Christmas Day matchup are you most looking forward to?
Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets will take on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day in a Western Conference showdown.
The Christmas matchup represents a milestone moment for the league. With both Durant and James expected to play, the game will feature the most combined career points between two players in a head-to-head matchup in NBA history.
Entering the game, James has scored 42,429 career points, the most in NBA history. Durant currently ranks eighth among all-time scorers with 31,201 points.
Durant will play in his 13th Christmas Day but his first as a member of the Houston Rockets, having joined the team during the offseason.
James is the career leader for several Christmas Day records, including points (507), games played (19) and victories (11). He is also tied with James Harden for the most three-pointers with 31.
The Lakers and New York Knicks enter Thursday tied for the most team wins on Christmas Day with 25 apiece.
Here’s how to watch the NBA’s Christmas Day game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets:
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.
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.
Lineup alert: Rockets will start Thompson, Eason, Durant, Smith Jr., Sengun on Thursday.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) December 25, 2025
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.
Both Jaxson Hayes and Gabe Vincent will be out for Thursday’s game against the Lakers. 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.
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, 2025Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)Location: Crypto.com (Los Angeles, California)TV: ABC, ESPNStreaming: ESPN Unlimited, FuboRockets vs. Lakers odds
The Houston Rockets are favored to beat the Los Angeles Lakers, according to DraftKings odds as of Dec. 24.
Line: Rockets -2.5Over/under: 230.5