The Los Angeles Lakers are ready to host the Houston Rockets at the Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day as they aim to snap their two-game losing streak. The Lakers are heading into this game following a 108-132 defeat against the Phoenix Suns. Therefore, the result of this game will again depend on the availability of star players like LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

Interestingly, both the Lakers and the Rockets have lost their last two games and are desperately looking for a win. While the Purple and Gold are fourth in the West with a 19-9 record, Houston are couple of spots behind in sixth with a slightly worse record of 17-10. The Rockets suffered a 108-128 defeat against the Clippers in their previous game.

Are LeBron James, Luka Doncic playing tonight? Latest injury report on Lakers

The Lakers’ star guard Luka Doncic has been promoted to probable from questionable ahead of Thursday’s home game. NBA Insider Shams Charania expects the Slovenian to play some role in the Christmas Day game. His presence was dearly felt by the Lakers as they lost to the Suns in Phoenix.

Later, another expert, Dave McMenamin, also confirmed that the point guard has been upgraded and could very well be a part of the game against the Rockets.

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Doncic suffered a left leg contusion last Saturday and therefore missed Tuesday’s game. The Lakers are extremely cautious about the issue as they wouldn’t want to rush him back to the court and make it worse.

Similarly, LeBron James has had a tough season dealing with multiple injuries. He has been playing despite sciatica issues, which demonstrates his dedication to the franchise and the sport. The 40-year-old is cleared off the injury list for Thursday’s game.

He recorded the team-high 23 points for the Lakers in their defeat against the Suns. He shot 50% from the floor and also drained three out of the five three-pointers attempted on the night.

Los Angeles Lakers Injury Report

Apart from the doubt around Doncic’s availability, there are more concerns for the Lakers heading into Thursday’s game. There are serious concerns around Rui Hachimura, who is listed as ‘questionable’ for the Christmas Day game. The Japanese power forward is dealing with a right groin injury and missed the last two games.

Adding to the concerns for the Lakers is Jaxson Hayes, who could only play five minutes against the Suns before sustaining an issue on his left ankle. He was listed as questionable earlier but was soon demoted to ‘out’ for this game against Houston.

Lastly, the Lakers continue to be shorthanded in the backcourt as Gabe Vincent remains on the sidelines with a back injury.

Are Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun playing tonight? Latest injury report on Rockets

Just like the Lakers, the Houston Rockets also rely on their star duo of Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun to win them games. On their trip to Los Angeles, a lot will depend on their availability. 15-time All-Star, Durant is available for this All-West matchup, while star center Sengun is listed as ‘questionable’ for the Christmas Day game.

The Turkish superstar is managing left calf tightness, and any further news around his availability will only be clear closer to tipoff. Sengun has been one of the most consistent and standout performers for Houston this season. He is a central figure for the Rockets in their offensive and defensive schemes. So if he fails to turn up, then it will be a massive setback for the Rockets.

However, Durant has been racking up numbers pretty nicely in his 18th year in the NBA. He is averaging more than 25 points, 4.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 50% from the floor. If Sengun misses out, the onus will be on Durant and others to guide the visitors home against the Lakers.

Houston Rockets Injury Report

Houston’s injury concern doesn’t end with the uncertainty around Sengun. They have several other players listed as day-to-day or out for this Lakers game. Veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith is someone who is listed as ‘questionable’ for this game. The 32-year-old is nursing from an ankle surgery and is close to his return, but may miss Thursday’s game.

Jae’Sean Tate is another player listed as ‘questionable’ for the away trip, as he is down with a wrist contusion. Lastly, Fred VanVleet is out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.

LeBron James, Luka Doncic vs Rockets: How they’ve performed in previous matchups

LeBron James’ availability will be a big boost for the Lakers, especially in this game, as fans are excited to see him face Kevin Durant. It is a classic NBA rivalry that has continued for years. Other than that, the Akron Hammer also enjoys a great record against the Houston franchise, averaging almost 25 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game across 47 meetings in his illustrious NBA career.

Luka Doncic’s presence could significantly boost the Lakers’ chances of winning this game. He is the scoring leader right now in the NBA and also possesses a fine record against the Rockets. The Slovenian point guard has put up 31.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists against the Rockets across 20 games in his career.

Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers predicted starting lineups

Based on current injury reports, here’s how both teams could start on Thursday

If Doncic misses the game, then Marcus Smart may start, given Austin Reeves is ready to take Nick Smith Jr’s place in the starting five. Similarly, Steven Adams and Clint Capela may get more minutes if Sengun is unavailable. Overall, both teams have their strengths, weaknesses, and injury concerns, which promise to be an exciting All-West matchup. Which team will have the last laugh?