The Los Angeles Lakers closed out the calendar year with a home loss to the Detroit Pistons with their defense continuing to struggle.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 27 points and backup Marcus Sasser added 19 points off the bench to lasso the LA Lakers.

The Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 132 to 108 for their 16th win of the season on Tuesday. Dillon Brooks led the team with 25 points and Devin Booker chipped in 21 and 11 assists in his first full-game shooting over 50% from the field in over a month.

Before ringing in the new year, Luka Dončić took time to remember what was a monumental 2025 for the five-time All-Star.

The third quarter ended with the Lakers leading 99-80, showcasing their sustained control. This dominance can be attributed to the Lakers' disciplined execution and effective communication on both ends of the court, allowing them to outmaneuver the Kings at every turn.

The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets at home on Christmas Day to suffer their third straight defeat.

Expert recap and game analysis of the LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA game from December 20, 2025 on ESPN.

Coming into their game on Tuesday versus the San Diego Clippers, the South Bay Lakers were in a definite slump. They had lost three games in a row and six of their last seven, and they badly needed a win to stop the bleeding that had accumulated.