For years, the LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant rivalry has served as the NBA’s gold standard for elite competition. But as the clock ticks on their legendary careers, with LeBron at 40 and Durant at 37, these head-to-head moments are becoming rare treasures. This year’s Christmas installment, however, was anything but a classic for the Purple and Gold. The Houston Rockets cruised to a dominant 119-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Durant’s 25 points and eight assists. For the Lakers, the loss marked their third straight defeat of 15 points or more, marking the first such slump of the season. It’s becoming clear that something is stalling in coach JJ Redick’s system, as the team has struggled to a 4-6 record over their last ten games.
LeBron James Posts Career-Worst Plus-Minus on Christmas Day
This was James’ 20th appearance on the Christmas Day stage, four more than the legendary Kobe Bryant, but it might be the one he wants to forget the most. Statistically, it was one of the least productive holiday outings of his two-decade career. James finished with 18 points, his third-lowest total on Christmas, while tying career lows for rebounds (2) and third lowest in assists (5) on this specific date. However, the most glaring number wasn’t in the scoring column; it was his staggering -33 plus-minus.
The Lakers were outscored by 33 points during LeBron’s minutes on the floor, marking the third-worst plus-minus of his entire professional career. To find a similar outlier, you have to go back to a January 2018 game during his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Even more concerning is that he has slow down this season, raising valid questions about whether his upcoming 41st birthday is finally starting to weigh on his legs. This year, the usual high-octane commitment we expect from LeBron has looked sporadically “off,” leaving fans wondering if the burden of being the league’s elder statesman is finally taking its toll.
Lakers can Finish 2025 Strong and Start 2026 Even Stronger
Despite the recent skid, the Lakers haven’t fallen out of the race just yet. They still hold the 4th seed in a hyper-competitive Western Conference, and they have a golden opportunity to right the ship before the calendar turns. Los Angeles has two games remaining in 2025, both at home, followed by two more at Crypto.com Arena to kick off 2026. The quest for redemption starts this Sunday against the last-place Sacramento Kings, a game they absolutely cannot afford to drop if they want to maintain their top-tier seeding.
The real test, however, comes in the final game of the year against the Detroit Pistons. In a massive role reversal from two seasons ago, the Pistons currently sit at the top of the Eastern Conference and will provide a measuring stick for whether the Lakers can still compete with the league’s new elite. Following that, 2026 begins with a back-to-back set against an inconsistent Memphis Grizzlies squad. These home games could be exactly what the team needs to wash away the bitter taste of their Christmas collapse.
