Overview
- Tipoff is 10:30 p.m. ET at the Intuit Dome with TV coverage on NBC/Peacock and Space City Home Network, and streaming available via Fubo.
- Houston enters 17-9 in sixth place after a 125-124 overtime loss, while Los Angeles is 7-21 in 14th following a 103-88 win over the Lakers.
- Injury reports list Dorian Finney-Smith and Fred VanVleet out for the Rockets, with Ivica Zubac, Bradley Beal and Derrick Jones Jr. out for the Clippers.
- DraftKings lists Houston -7.5 with the total around 219.5–220, and multiple previews and picks lean to the Rockets to cover.
- Kevin Durant is averaging about 25 points with a strong December run, and Zubac’s absence highlights a potential interior edge for Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr.