Lakers drop 3rd straight with Christmas Day loss to Rockets

LOS ANGELES — Despite being on their first losing streak of the season, the Lakers entered Thursday feeling optimistic about themselves in light of having their preferred starting lineup available for the first time in over two weeks.

Those good feelings barely lasted for the first half of the Lakers’ 119-96 Christmas Day loss to the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena.

Because just as the Lakers were getting closer to being whole, with star guard Luka Doncic and starting forward Rui Hachimura back in the lineup...