Is Luka Doncic playing on Christmas? Latest updates on Lakers star's status vs. Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers will be in action on Christmas Day, but it is uncertain if star guard Luka Doncic will be able to play.

The Lakers will take on the Rockets as part of ESPN's five-game NBA slate on Christmas, but Doncic has been dealing with a calf contusion in his left leg. He picked up the injury last Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers and missed Tuesday's game against the Phoenix Suns because of it. The Lakers lost both games.

Los Angeles comes into the game with a 19-9 record but is still sitting in first place in the Pacific Division. The Lakers had a seven-game win streak to end November but are 4-5 in December so far.

Here are the latest updates on whether Doncic will be able to suit up against the Rockets on Christmas Day.

WATCH: Lakers vs. Rockets on Christmas Day with Fubo (free trial)

Is Luka Doncic playing on Christmas?

The Lakers practiced on Monday, three days before the Christmas Day game against the Rockets. Afterwards, head coach JJ Redick called the star guard day-to-day. Doncic has been dealing with a left calf contusion that sidelined him for Tuesday's loss to the Phoenix Suns. Ahead of that game, ESPN's Dave McMenamin said that the injury was "just a bruise" and that the team was going to look into a "wrap" or "padding" to help Doncic. 

McMenamin added, "There's still a possibility - a very real possibility - that he feels good enough to go Thursday [Christmas] against the Rockets."

🚨 Luka Doncic could play on Christmas, per @McTen

“There's still a very real possibility that he feels good enough to go against the Rockets”pic.twitter.com/fWmR6JXilI

— LakersMuse (@LALMuse) December 23, 2025

MORE: What NBA games are on Christmas? 

What happened to Luka Doncic?

Doncic has been sidelined with a "left calf contusion." He suffered the injury in Saturday's game against the Clippers, but it wasn't super clear when it happened. It was bad enough to force him to miss Tuesday's loss to the Suns, but he could return on Thursday after missing just one game. 

I guess this was apparently when Luka Doncic got injured with a lower leg / gastrocnemius contusion. I mean there is really not much there, at least from what we see on TV…. #Lakers need his scoring desperately. Pic.twitter.com/D2vuAABObd

— Laker M.D. (@Dr_Lakers) December 21, 2025

What time do the Lakers play on Christmas?

• Date: Thursday, December 25
• Time: 8 p.m. ET

The Lakers will face the Rockets on Christmas Day as part of a five-game holiday slate. Tip-off from crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California is set for 8 p.m. ET. 

What channel are the Lakers on this Christmas?

• Date: Thursday, December 25
• TV Channel: ABC, ESPN
• Live stream: ESPN App, Fubo

Fans can watch the Lakers take on the Rockets on Christmas Day on both ABC and ESPN.

Cord-cutters can stream the game with the ESPN App or Fubo, with the latter carrying ABC and ESPN in its channel lineup while offering  a free trial. 

Lakers upcoming schedule

Here is a look at Los Angeles' next 10 games.