Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Picks and Prediction for Thursday, December 25, 2025
Use Code WWWC It’s a Western Conference tilt on the hardwood as the Houston Rockets travel to take on the Los Angeles Lakers Christmas night and we have you covered with our Rockets vs. Lakers prediction. Houston was blasted 128-108 on the road by the Clippers Tuesday night, losing outright as a seven-point favorite, in their previous contest. Los Angeles was hammered 132-108 by Phoenix Tuesday night, failing to cover the line as a two-point underdog, in their previous contest. In the all-time regular season series between the teams, the Lakers own a 150-109 advantage and have won the last two meetings, including a 140-109 home win in the most recent matchup April 11. Read more about this Rockets vs. Lakers prediction! No air balls here—only slam dunks with our NBA Picks!
Rockets Trying to Stop Recent Slide
Houston dropped their second straight and their fourth in the last five games as they were dropped by the Clippers Tuesday night. The Rockets entered Wednesday 17-10 on the year and were second in the Southwest Division, four games behind the Spurs for the top spot. Against LA, Houston led by as many as nine in the opening quarter and by six after one before things fell apart. The Rockets trailed by five at the half and didn’t get closer than three while trailing by as many as 26 in the second half. Houston shot 50% from the floor, including nine of 30 from beyond the arc, but allowed the Clippers to shoot 54.5% from the field in the contest. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 22 points in the loss.
The Rockets enter this contest 3rd in the league with 120.5 points per game on the season. Houston is 1st in rebounding by collecting 48.7 boards a night while they are 18th in assists with 25.8 dimes per contest. The Rockets are 6th in scoring defense as they give up an average of 112.7 points per game on the year. Kevin Durant leads the Rockets with 25.3 points and five rebounds per contest this season. Alperen Sengun (23.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.5 steals), Amen Thompson (17.5 points, 7.2 boards, 5.3 assists) and Jabari Smith Jr. (15.6 points, seven rebounds) are solid options on the offensive end of the floor. Josh Okogie, Reed Sheppard (13.5 points, 3.4 assists), Steven Adams, Tari Eason (11.8 points, five rebounds) and Clint Capela have to contribute for coach Ime Udoka for the team to have success. Houston is 5th in field goal percentage as they shoot 48.7% as a team from the floor. The Rockets are 22nd in threes per game as they knock down 12.1 triples a night and stand 2nd in three-point shooting by hitting 40% from beyond the arc. Houston is a below average team at the free throw line as they are 20th by converting 78.2% of their attempts on the season.
Key Injury Report for Rockets:
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- Guard Fred VanVleet (knee) is out for the season.
- Forward Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) is out.
Los Angeles Looking to Maintain Pacific Division Edge
Los Angeles suffered a second straight loss as they were clobbered on the road by the Suns Tuesday night. The Lakers entered Wedneday 19-9 on the year and owned a 3.5-game advantage over the Suns for the top spot in the Pacific Division. Against the Suns, Los Angeles owned their biggest lead at 9-4 with 9:35 remaining in the first quarter. The Lakers were down three after the opening quarter, by 10 at the half and were outscored 45-29 in the third quarter to turn the game into a rout. Los Angeles shot 48.1% from the field, including 12 of 32 from three-point range, but allowed Phoenix to shoot 58.8% in the game. LeBron James paced the Lakers with 23 points and six assists in the loss.
The Lakers are 13th in the league in scoring offense as they put up an average of 117.7 points per game this season. Los Angeles is 25th in rebounding with 41.8 boards per contest and 26th in assists with 24.9 per game. The Lakers stand 19th in the league in scoring defense as they allow 117.4 points per night. Luka Doncic leads the team as he puts up 34.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists a night this season. Austin Reaves (27.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists), LeBron James (20.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, seven assists), Deandre Ayton (15.2 points, nine rebounds) and Rui Hachimura (13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds) are solid secondary scoring options. Jake LaRavia (8.8 points), Marcus Smart (10.5 points, 2.9 assists), Dalton Knecht, Nick Smith Jr., Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt and Bronny James are looked at to contribute for coach J.J. Redick. The Lakers are 2nd in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 49.9% from the floor as a team. Los Angeles is 25th in the league with 11.7 triples per game while standing 24th in three-point shooting by shooting 34.6% from downtown. The Lakers are an average team at the charity stripe, ranking 17th by sinking 78.4% of their attempts as a team.
Key Injury Report for Lakers:
- Guard Gabe Vincent (back) is out.
- Forward Rui Hachimura (groin) is day-to-day.
- Center Jaxson Hayes (ankle) is day-to-day.
- Guard Luka Doncic (leg) is day-to-day.
Rockets vs. Lakers Pick
Rockets vs. Lakers Spread Pick
- Rockets -2.5 (4 units)
Houston has dropped four of five entering this one but they’re healthy as they’ve been all year entering this contest. The Rockets’ two names on the injury report are VanVleet and Finney-Smith, who haven’t seen the floor all season. Los Angeles has dropped two straight and while they saw Reaves return Tuesday night, it’s still unclear about the situation for Hachimura and Doncic. The Lakers are inconsistent at best at this point, even though they lead the Pacific Division. Los Angeles is better on the road (12-5) than at home (7-4) on the year. Look for Durant and the Rockets to come up with the win here.
Rockets vs. Lakers Over/Under Pick
- Over 229 (4 units)
Houston has seen the over post a 17-10 mark in their 27 games on the season. The Rockets are third in scoring offense and second in offensive efficiency despite ranking 29th in the league in terms of tempo with 96.3 possessions per game on the year. Los Angeles enters this game having seen the over post a 19-9 mark on the year. Los Angeles is 13th in the league in scoring offense, 7th in offensive efficiency and 21st in terms of tempo by averaging 99 possessions per contest. Three of the last four meetings have gone over the total and with Houston’s efficiency offensively, this game winds up over the number.
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