🏀 Rockets vs. Clippers Live Score & Betting Updates: Harden and Kawhi Battle Durant in Inglewood. Watch Now
Today, December 24, 2025, the NBA world is focused on the late-night Western Conference clash between the Houston Rockets and the LA Clippers. Currently, the game is in progress at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
Live Score & Game Status
- Current Score: LA Clippers 87 – 75 Houston Rockets
- Game State: In Progress (Wednesday Morning IST / Tuesday Night PT)
- Venue: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Live Betting Updates & Odds
As the game progresses, the live betting lines have shifted significantly from the pre-game totals.
Pre-Game Closing Lines (For Context)
- Spread: Rockets -7.5 to -8.5
- Moneyline: Rockets -290 | Clippers +235
- Over/Under: 219.5
Live Betting Insights
With the Clippers currently leading by 12 points, the live moneyline has flipped. The Clippers are now the live favorites. If you are betting live:
- The “Under” looks promising: Both teams are playing at a pace that suggests the final score may stay under the original 219.5 line.
- Rockets Comeback: Despite the deficit, Houston’s core (Durant and Sengun) are known for late-game surges. A live spread of +6.5 for Houston could be a value play if you believe in their fourth-quarter execution.
Watch Now: đź“ş TV: NBC / Space City Home Network
📱 Live Stream: Peacock | FuboTV | NBA League Pass
The Houston Rockets are currently taking on the LA Clippers at the brand-new Intuit Dome. This is a high-stakes Western Conference showdown featuring a clash of eras: the rising Rockets core led by Alperen Sengun and veteran Kevin Durant against the Clippers’ seasoned duo of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
Match Prediction & Analysis
Despite the current score favoring the Clippers, the Houston Rockets (17–9) entered this game as the statistically superior team against the struggling Clippers (7–21).
Why the Clippers are Leading
- Kawhi Leonard’s Dominance: Leonard is coming off a 32-point performance against the Lakers and has maintained that momentum tonight.
- James Harden’s Playmaking: Facing his former team, Harden has been effective in distributing the ball, compensating for the absence of Ivica Zubac.
- Home Court Energy: The Intuit Dome crowd is providing a significant boost as the Clippers look to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Why Houston Could Still Flip the Game
- The KD Factor: Kevin Durant has been averaging 25.3 PPG. He is notorious for taking over in the final 8 minutes of play.
- Interior Advantage: With Ivica Zubac out (Grade 2 ankle sprain), Alperen Sengun should eventually find more success in the paint against a smaller Clippers lineup.
Final Prediction: While the Clippers have the lead now, expect the Rockets to close the gap. The final score is projected to be close, likely Rockets 112, Clippers 108, with Houston potentially covering a late live spread.
Key Injury Report
| Player | Team | Status | Injury |
| Ivica Zubac | Clippers | OUT | Left Ankle Sprain |
| Bradley Beal | Clippers | OUT | Hip (Season) |
| Fred VanVleet | Rockets | OUT | ACL (Season) |
| Dorian Finney-Smith | Rockets | OUT | Ankle |
INGLEWOOD, CA — In a game that felt more like a heavyweight boxing match than a mid-December NBA regular-season contest, the Houston Rockets survived a late-game surge from the Los Angeles Clippers to secure a 122-114 victory on Tuesday night.
The backdrop was the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome, but the story was as old as time: a legendary scorer reaching into his bag to put a game away. Kevin Durant, who has looked ten years younger since joining the Rockets, poured in 34 points, including a dagger fadeaway with 42 seconds remaining that sent the Clippers faithful to the exits.
The Durant Factor: Houston’s New Identity
When the Rockets traded for Durant in the summer of 2025, the league questioned if a core of young talent like Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson could coexist with a high-volume veteran. On Tuesday, those questions were answered with a resounding “yes.”
Durant was clinical. He finished 12-of-21 from the field, showcasing a diverse offensive repertoire that the Clippers—playing without defensive anchor Ivica Zubac (ankle)—had no answer for. Whether it was the high-post mid-range jumper or the transition three-pointer, Durant was the steadying hand every time Los Angeles threatened to take the lead.
“He just doesn’t rattle,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said of Durant. “When they went on that 12-0 run in the fourth, we didn’t panic. We just got the ball to the Hall of Famer and let him work. That’s the luxury we have now.”
A Tale of Two Stars: Harden and Leonard Fight Back
For the Clippers, the night was a bittersweet display of what could be. James Harden and Kawhi Leonard combined for 58 points, turning back the clock with a series of isolation plays that kept the game within a single possession for most of the second half.
Harden, facing his former team, was in “Chef” mode early. He recorded 26 points and 12 assists, picking apart the Rockets’ secondary defense. Leonard added 32 points, often bullying his way to the rim, but the absence of Zubac proved fatal on the other end of the floor. Without their 7-foot center to protect the rim, the Clippers surrendered 54 points in the paint.
Key Stats & Box Score Leaders
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Key Highlight |
| Kevin Durant (HOU) | 34 | 7 | 5 | 4/7 from 3PT |
| Kawhi Leonard (LAC) | 32 | 9 | 3 | 11/12 FT |
| Alperen Sengun (HOU) | 22 | 13 | 6 | Double-Double |
| James Harden (LAC) | 26 | 4 | 12 | 5/11 from 3PT |
| Reed Sheppard (HOU) | 19 | 3 | 4 | 5 triples off bench |
The Sheppard Effect: Houston’s Bench Spark
While Durant took the headlines, rookie sensation Reed Sheppard continued his campaign for Rookie of the Year. Coming off the bench, Sheppard provided an immediate spark, hitting three consecutive three-pointers in the second quarter to help Houston erase an early 8-point deficit.
Sheppard finished with 19 points in just 24 minutes. His gravity on the perimeter opened up the floor for Alperen Sengun, who feasted on the undersized Clippers frontcourt. Sengun’s 22 points and 13 rebounds were crucial, especially in the fourth quarter when the Rockets dominated the offensive glass.
The Decisive Fourth Quarter
The game was tied at 98-98 with 7:15 remaining after a James Harden step-back three. From there, Houston’s defense—ranked 4th in the league—finally locked in. Amen Thompson was assigned the “Kawhi Leonard duty,” using his length and athleticism to force the Clippers star into three late-game turnovers.
Houston responded with a 10-2 run, punctuated by a thunderous dunk from Thompson on a fast break. The Clippers made one final push to cut it to 116-114, but Durant’s back-to-back buckets in the final minute sealed the deal.
Impact on the Standings
With the win, the Rockets (18-9) keep pace with the leaders of the Western Conference, firmly establishing themselves as a top-four seed. Their ability to win on the road in hostile environments like the Intuit Dome suggests this isn’t just a hot start—it’s a legitimate title run.
The Clippers (7-22), meanwhile, find themselves in a difficult position. Despite the brilliance of their veteran stars, the lack of depth and the injury to Zubac have left them vulnerable. As the trade deadline approaches, the front office in LA will have some difficult decisions to make regarding the future of the “213 era.”
What’s Next?
- Houston Rockets: The road trip continues as they head to Oklahoma City for a massive showdown against the Thunder on Friday.
- LA Clippers: They will stay home to host the Utah Jazz on Thursday, hoping to snap their recent skid and find some consistency in the middle of the pack.
