The Rockets head to Los Angeles on Tuesday night with momentum, health advantages, and a clear target. The Clippers’ anchor, Ivica Zubac, is out with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain. For a 7-21 team already searching for answers, losing its most stabilizing piece on both ends creates a fresh problem against a 17-9 Houston group that has found ways to win shorthanded.

Rockets vs Clippers injury report: who’s in, who’s out

Official injury notes paint a stark picture for both sides. For Houston, two rotation pillars remain sidelined: Dorian Finney-Smith is out following left ankle surgery, and Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and will most likely miss the entire season.

The Clippers’ list is longer and heavier in the frontcourt. Zubac will miss at least the next three weeks and is expected to be out until mid-January. Derrick Jones Jr. is out with a right knee MCL sprain. Bradley Beal remains out with a left hip fracture/soreness. Cam Christie (foot) and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (knee) are questionable. Chris Paul is out and not with the team.

• Rockets OUT: Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle), Fred VanVleet (ACL)
• Clippers OUT: Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain), Derrick Jones Jr. (right knee MCL), Bradley Beal (left hip), Chris Paul (not with team)
• Clippers QUESTIONABLE: Cam Christie (foot), Yanic Konan Niederhauser (knee)

Why Ivica Zubac’s ankle sprain changes everything

Zubac has been the Clippers’ safety net. He played in all 28 games before the injury and averaged 32 minutes per game. When he is on the court, LA’s numbers stabilize. When he sits, the floor drops out. The Clippers have the worst point differential in the entire league when Zubac is not on the floor, and he carries the best on/off rating on the roster.

That tells you two things. First, he covers up a lot: rim protection, defensive rebounding, and a reliable screening target in the half court. Second, LA’s alternatives haven’t stuck. This absence will test recent roster moves and depth pieces, including bigs added to steady the front line and young options like Yanic Konan Niederhauser if he’s cleared.

“Without Zubac, every drive feels like a layup line.”

Houston’s edge: attack the paint, win the glass

The Rockets don’t need to get fancy. They can play to a simple plan: put pressure at the rim, hunt second-chance points, and make the Clippers defend without their top backline big. If Steven Adams is available, his size and screens are tailor-made for this kind of game. Historically, Adams has handled the Zubac matchup well, averaging 9.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 19 meetings, with a 12-7 head-to-head record. Zubac’s absence changes the look, but the principle remains: punish the paint.

We don’t have confirmation from the provided reports on Adams’ status for tonight, so monitor the official game notes. Even without him, Houston has enough size and scheme discipline to make LA pay inside.

Clippers’ path: Harden, Leonard, and a small-ball test

The challenge for LA is to build a plan around what they have. James Harden and Kawhi Leonard must carry the usage and the late-clock creation. But the intended starting group of Harden, Beal, Jones, Leonard, and Zubac has played only 63 minutes all season. With Beal and Jones out and Zubac sidelined, that blueprint is off the table.

That likely means small-ball stretches, five-out spacing, and betting on Harden’s pick-and-roll craft to crack Houston’s defense. Can LA survive on the glass? Can they defend without fouling? Those are the swing questions. If Christie is available, his movement shooting helps. If Niederhauser can go, his activity matters, even in light minutes. LA needs energy and clean possessions more than anything.

“Harden and Kawhi can score — but who’s grabbing the rebounds?”

Numbers that frame Rockets vs Clippers

• Records: Rockets 17-9; Clippers 7-21.
• Zubac: played all 28 games before the injury, 32 minutes per night, best on/off rating on the team.
• When Zubac sits: Clippers post the league’s worst point differential.
• Historical context: Steven Adams vs Zubac, 19 meetings — 9.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists; Adams’ teams are 12-7 in those games.
• Continuity: The projected Clippers five (Harden-Beal-Jones-Leonard-Zubac) has logged just 63 minutes total this season.

What to watch Tuesday night

• Paint points: Do the Rockets live at the rim without Zubac patrolling?
• Rebounds: Can LA limit Houston to one shot per trip?
• Fouls: If the Clippers play smaller, whistle trouble could snowball fast.
• Rotation tests: Minutes for Christie or Niederhauser if cleared, and how those lineups hold.
• Late-game creation: Harden and Leonard must be elite to close, given the injuries.

Big picture: December urgency for LA, quiet confidence for Houston

For the Clippers, this is about survival and structure. Zubac’s mid-January timeline leaves a multi-week gap to fill. There’s no magic fix, but there are habits: sprint back, hit first on the glass, and value the ball. If LA can do those three simple things, close games become possible even with the roster thinned out.

For Houston, it’s about professionalism. They are 17-9 with their own injuries, and the identity is clear: defend, rebound, and trust the system. Win the math at the rim and the stripe. Keep turnovers low. If the Rockets do that, they should leave LA with a result that matches the form guide.

“This feels like a schedule win for Houston — if they stay disciplined.”

One more note: all signs and reports are fresh, and official NBA injury sheets are expected to update closer to tip. The headline remains the same, though. Zubac is out, and the Clippers’ path gets steeper. Houston knows it. LA does too. Now we see who handles the simple things better on a tough December night.