Down five key players, the Lakers trotted out their ninth different starting lineup of the season, but a bit of change led to some poor results, as Houston trampled the purple and gold, 134-95.
Turnovers doomed Los Angeles from the start, as it committed a league-wide season-high 28 turnovers, which led to 48 points for the Rockets.
The team has now lost four straight games with its starting backcourt of D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young out due to injuries, while Marcelo Huertas and Nick Young have joined them on the medical report.
But head coach Luke Walton maintained that the Lakers (10-14) can’t think of these poor fortunes as excuses.