James scored 18 points to claim the Christmas Day three-point crown alone, Doncic dropped 25 points in vain, Rockets defeated Lakers by 23 points

On December 26 Beijing time, the NBA Christmas Day matchup between the Lakers and Rockets took place. Early in the first quarter, James made a three-pointer, reaching 32 total and overtaking Harden as the NBA Christmas Day all-time leader in three-pointers. The Lakers were pressured by the Rockets the whole game and never took the lead. In the end, after four quarters, the Rockets won easily 119-96 over the Lakers.

Statistical summary:

Rockets: Durant 25 points and 9 assists, Shenggen 14 points and 12 rebounds, Smith 16 points and 7 rebounds, Eason 13 points, Amen 26 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, Shepard 13 points

Lakers: James 18 points, Doncic 25 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, Ayton 10 points, Reeves 12 points, Vanderbilt 11 points

Game progression:

In the first quarter, Eason started with a three-pointer, leading the Rockets to a perfect 9-3 start. Reeves responded with a three to stop the bleeding, but Smith quickly answered with his own three-pointer. Amen and Shenggen scored consecutively, pushing the Rockets' lead into double digits. Both sides then engaged in a tug-of-war, with the Rockets maintaining about a 10-point advantage. Near the end of the quarter, James hit a three-pointer, taking his total to 32 and becoming the sole Christmas Day three-point leader. The Rockets then launched another offensive surge, steadily increasing the margin. The first quarter ended with the Rockets leading 37-25, a 12-point gap over the Lakers.

In the second quarter, Shepard easily scored on a layup to extend the lead, while Reeves hit a difficult three-pointer. The Lakers then mounted a fierce offense, cutting the deficit to 8 points and forcing a Rockets timeout. After the break, the situation did not improve; the Lakers went on an 8-2 run, narrowing the gap to just 4 points. At a crucial moment, Durant hit a mid-range jumper to stop the Lakers' momentum, and the Rockets responded with a 7-3 run to reestablish an 8-point lead. James made two free throws to keep closing in, but the Rockets finished the quarter with a 6-1 run. At halftime, the Rockets led the Lakers 63-53 by 10 points.

The third quarter started similarly, with the Rockets scoring four straight points. Doncic made a tough three-pointer, but then the game’s momentum shifted. The Rockets went on a scoring spree, quickly extending the lead to 17 points. Doncic scored on a layup to stop the bleeding, but Shenggen immediately responded. With Smith making two free throws, the lead grew to over 20 points. The teams then settled into a stalemate, with the margin hovering around 20 points. Near the end of the quarter, the Lakers went on a 7-3 run to reduce the gap. The third quarter ended with the Rockets ahead 92-76, holding an 18-point lead.

In the final quarter, James scored first, but Shepard completed a 2+1 play to extend the lead. The scores exchanged back and forth, yet the gap remained around 20 points. In the latter half of the quarter, the Lakers gradually chipped away at the Rockets' lead, shrinking it to 15 points. At a critical moment, Durant drew a foul and made two free throws, sparking a 7-0 run for the Rockets that pushed the lead back above 20 points. Afterwards, the Lakers subbed out all their starters, effectively conceding, and a minute later the Rockets also brought in their third-string lineup. The game ended with the Rockets comfortably beating the Lakers 119-96.

Starting lineups for both teams:

Rockets: Durant, Smith, Shenggen, Eason, Amen

Lakers: James, Hachimura, Ayton, Reeves, Doncic