Overview

• The Lakers suffered a 135-119 loss to the Houston Rockets, marking one of their worst defensive performances of the season.
• Rookie wing Cam Whitmore, who was the No. 20 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, entered the game and scored 12 straight points, swinging the momentum in favor of the Rockets.
• Dillon Brooks of the Rockets was involved in a pair of incidents that led to Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt’s ejection in the second quarter.
• LeBron James, Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell nearly matched the Rockets' Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun by scoring 23 points apiece, but it wasn’t enough.
• The Lakers are now back to .500 at 24-24, displaying a lack of consistency throughout the season.