HOUSTON -- — Jalen Green scored 33 points and Fred VanVleet grabbed a key steal late to allow the Houston Rockets to hold on for a 119-115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

Amen Thompson added 23 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in his return after a two-game suspension to help Houston eke out the victory after leading by as many as 22.

A basket by LeBron James got the Lakers within 117-115 with eight seconds to go. Alperen Sengun missed 1 of 2 free throws after that to give Los Angeles a chance to tie it.

But VanVleet stole the inbounds pass intended for James. VanVleet made 1 of 2 free throws to secure the victory.

Anthony Davis had 30 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers. James added 21 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.

Los Angeles used an 11-2 run, with six points from Davis, to get within two with 4 minutes to go. A dunk by Thompson started a 7-2 run that pushed Houston’s lead to 115-108 with 2 ½ minutes remaining.

The Rockets remained up by seven about a minute after that when a 3 by Davis cut the lead to 117-113 before the basket by James.

Takeaways

Lakers: Davis was dominant throughout this one but James struggled to get going early and had just five points at halftime.

Rockets: Thompson’s performance Sunday was a good sign for Houston. The second-year player is starting in place of Jabari Smith Jr., who could be out up to two months after breaking a bone in his hand Friday.

Key moment

The steal by VanVleet that sealed the victory.

Key stat

The Rockets had 52 points in the paint to 40 by the Lakers.

Up next

The Lakers visit Dallas on Tuesday night and the Rockets visit Washington that night.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Anthony Davis vs. Alperen Sengun (Max Christie gains possession)	0	0
11:39	Anthony Davis out of bounds bad pass turnover	0	0
11:25	Amen Thompson makes 1-foot alley oop dunk shot (Alperen Sengun assists)	2	0
10:58	Austin Reaves misses 13-foot two point shot	2	0
10:57	Amen Thompson defensive rebound	2	0
10:51	Amen Thompson makes 6-foot driving floating jump shot	4	0
10:40	Austin Reaves makes 3-foot driving floating jump shot	4	2
10:13	Alperen Sengun misses 26-foot three point jumper	4	2
10:12	LeBron James defensive rebound	4	2
10:09	Alperen Sengun personal foul	4	2
10:09	(10:09) [Lakers] REF-INITIATED REVIEW (REPLAY SUPPORTS CALL)	4	2
10:00	Rui Hachimura makes 25-foot three point jumper (Anthony Davis assists)	4	5
9:50	Amen Thompson misses driving floating jump shot	4	5
9:49	Amen Thompson offensive rebound	4	5
9:47	Amen Thompson makes 2-foot dunk	6	5
9:25	Anthony Davis makes 10-foot two point shot	6	7
9:11	Dillon Brooks misses 25-foot three point jumper	6	7
9:09	Amen Thompson offensive rebound	6	7
9:07	Amen Thompson bad pass (LeBron James steals)	6	7
9:01	Max Christie misses 22-foot three point shot	6	7
9:00	Dillon Brooks defensive rebound	6	7
8:52	Alperen Sengun out of bounds bad pass turnover	6	7
8:34	Anthony Davis out of bounds bad pass turnover	6	7
8:16	Dillon Brooks misses 11-foot two point shot	6	7
8:15	LeBron James defensive rebound	6	7
8:03	Austin Reaves misses 9-foot two point shot	6	7
8:01	Alperen Sengun defensive rebound	6	7
7:43	Alperen Sengun makes layup (Dillon Brooks assists)	8	7
7:33	Rui Hachimura misses layup	8	7
7:32	Jalen Green defensive rebound	8	7
7:28	Jalen Green makes two point shot	10	7
7:17	Austin Reaves makes 24-foot three point jumper (Max Christie assists)	10	10
7:01	Jalen Green makes 25-foot three pointer	13	10
6:47	Rui Hachimura makes 19-foot pullup jump shot (Austin Reaves assists)	13	12
6:29	Alperen Sengun misses 11-foot two point shot	13	12
6:28	Anthony Davis defensive rebound	13	12
6:16	LeBron James makes 6-foot two point shot	13	14
6:04	Jalen Green misses 26-foot three point pullup jump shot	13	14
6:03	LeBron James defensive rebound	13	14
5:53	Fred VanVleet blocks Anthony Davis 's 3-foot layup	13	14
5:52	Fred VanVleet defensive rebound	13	14
5:48	Amen Thompson makes 1-foot dunk (Dillon Brooks assists)	15	14
5:29	Rui Hachimura makes 25-foot three point jumper (LeBron James assists)	15	17
5:07	Anthony Davis blocks Alperen Sengun 's 2-foot two point shot	15	17
5:06	LeBron James defensive rebound	15	17
4:58	Rockets Full timeout	15	17
4:58	Jae'Sean Tate enters the game for Amen Thompson	15	17
4:58	Dorian Finney-Smith enters the game for Max Christie	15	17
4:58	Shake Milton enters the game for LeBron James	15	17
4:44	Anthony Davis misses 13-foot two point shot	15	17
4:42	Alperen Sengun defensive rebound	15	17
4:28	Fred VanVleet makes 27-foot three point jumper (Dillon Brooks assists)	18	17
4:09	Dorian Finney-Smith makes two point shot (Anthony Davis assists)	18	19
3:49	Jalen Green makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot	21	19
3:36	Jalen Green personal foul	21	19
3:36	Steven Adams enters the game for Alperen Sengun	21	19
3:36	Cam Reddish enters the game for Rui Hachimura	21	19
3:32	Anthony Davis misses 19-foot jumper	21	19
3:31	Jalen Green defensive rebound	21	19
3:21	Jalen Green makes 9-foot two point shot	23	19
3:03	Jalen Green shooting foul	23	19
3:03	Shake Milton makes free throw 1 of 2	23	20
3:03	Shake Milton misses free throw 2 of 2	23	20
3:03	Shake Milton offensive rebound	23	20
3:00	Shake Milton out of bounds bad pass turnover	23	20
2:48	Jalen Green makes 8-foot two point shot (Jae'Sean Tate assists)	25	20
2:28	Anthony Davis misses 11-foot two point shot	25	20
2:28	Fred VanVleet defensive rebound	25	20
2:21	Anthony Davis personal foul	25	20
2:21	Lakers Full timeout	25	20
2:21	Cam Whitmore enters the game for Fred VanVleet	25	20
2:21	Amen Thompson enters the game for Dillon Brooks	25	20
2:21	LeBron James enters the game for Austin Reaves	25	20
2:17	Cam Reddish personal foul	25	20
2:12	Jalen Green makes 1-foot two point shot	27	20
2:12	LeBron James shooting foul	27	20
2:12	Jalen Green makes free throw 1 of 1	28	20
1:54	Dorian Finney-Smith misses 24-foot three point jumper	28	20
1:53	Cam Whitmore defensive rebound	28	20
1:41	Steven Adams makes two point shot	30	20
1:25	Dorian Finney-Smith makes two point shot (LeBron James assists)	30	22
1:14	Anthony Davis blocks Amen Thompson 's 13-foot step back jumpshot	30	22
1:13	Anthony Davis defensive rebound	30	22
1:02	LeBron James misses 9-foot two point shot	30	22
1:00	Amen Thompson defensive rebound	30	22
55.1	Anthony Davis blocks Amen Thompson 's 3-foot two point shot	30	22
55.1	Steven Adams offensive rebound	30	22
37.2	Jalen Green makes 29-foot three pointer	33	22
34.1	Jae'Sean Tate personal foul	33	22
23.1	Anthony Davis misses 23-foot three point jumper	33	22
22.0	Dorian Finney-Smith offensive rebound	33	22
17.1	Shake Milton steps out of bounds turnover	33	22
1.0	Jae'Sean Tate makes 24-foot three point jumper (Amen Thompson assists)	36	22
0.0	(00:00) [Lakers] REF-INITIATED REVIEW (REPLAY SUPPORTS CALL)	36	22
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	36	22

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Toyota Center (Houston)

Houston, TX

Date & Time

12:00 AM, January 6, 2025

Coverage

NBA League Pass, Space City Home Network, Spectrum Sports Net

Attendance

18,055

Referees

Sean Wright, Jenna Schroeder, Ray Acosta

2025-26 Pacific Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
LA Lakers	35	24	.593	W1
Phoenix	34	26	.567	W1
Golden State	31	29	.517	L1
LA Clippers	27	31	.466	L3
Sacramento	14	47	.230	W1

2025-26 Southwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
San Antonio	43	16	.729	W11
Houston	37	22	.627	L1
Memphis	22	36	.379	W1
Dallas	21	38	.356	L2
New Orleans	19	42	.311	W4

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Green has 33 points, VanVleet's late steal helps Rockets hold on for 119-115 win over Lakers

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