UPDATE: The Los Angeles Lakers have reinstated their preferred starting lineup for today’s Christmas Day showdown against the Houston Rockets. After being sidelined for weeks, stars Luka Doncic and Rui Hachimura return, promising to enhance the Lakers’ performance at Crypto.com Arena.
In a significant boost for the team, Doncic and Hachimura will join Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Deandre Ayton on the court, marking the first time this lineup has played together since the Lakers’ December 10 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The team aims to capitalize on their near-full strength as they look to improve their current standing.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick expressed optimism about the lineup’s potential, stating, “In a perfect world, it gives you just sort of a normal flow in terms of your offensive optionality.” However, he cautioned that they will still manage Reaves’ minutes carefully due to a recent calf injury.
Despite the return of key players, the Lakers are still missing two rotation members: Jaxson Hayes (left ankle soreness) and Gabe Vincent (lumbar back strain). This inconsistency in player availability has hampered the team’s ability to establish a solid defensive identity, currently ranking 28th in the league for defensive rating since November 23.
Redick elaborated on the challenges of maintaining continuity in player lineups, stating, “It’s hard to judge… you just don’t seem to have that kind of consistency with what we’re trying to do.”
Adding to the matchup’s intrigue, former Laker Dorian Finney-Smith is set to make his debut for the Rockets today after missing the first 27 games of the season due to ankle surgery. Finney-Smith was traded to Houston in December 2024 and previously averaged 7.9 points per game with the Lakers. His presence is expected to bolster the Rockets’ performance against a full-strength Lakers team.
As the Lakers look to harness the momentum of their returning stars, all eyes will be on their performance today. The game is pivotal not only for their playoff hopes but also to regain confidence after a tumultuous stretch of injuries and losses.
Fans are eager to see if the Lakers can capitalize on their starting lineup’s potential and improve their defensive woes. The game is currently ongoing, and updates will follow as the situation develops.
