Convenience Big Store: Rockets survive wild final minute to slip past Clippers

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Today's starting lineup

The Rockets and Clippers are teams heading in very different directions. But on Thursday night at Toyota Center, woebegone Los Angeles gave Houston all it could handle before the Rockets pulled one out in the final minute amid chaos.

Please scroll down for the rest of this morning's headlines.

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Greg Rajan, Weekend Sports Editor

greg.rajan@houstonchronicle.com

Rockets / NBA

Houston Rockets bench celebrate Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) tap in to keep the Rockets on top in the fourth quarter against the LA Clippers at the Toyota Center in Houston on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. Houston Rockets won the game 115-113.

Photo by: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

Winning board games

The Rockets went ahead with less than 30 seconds to go thanks to a signature sequence before surviving a chaotic final stretch with multiple replay reviews and missed opportunities for the Clippers.

Texans / NFL

Javier Loya is Chairman and CEO of OTC Global Holdings, a company he co-founded in 2007 which is now the largest independent interdealer brokerage in the world. Monday, April 17, 2017, in Houston. ( Marie D. De Jesus / Houston Chronicle )

Photo by: Marie D. De Jesús, Houston Chronicle

Minority owner disciplined by NFL

The fine and suspension for Texans limited partner Javier Loya comes after a years-long investigation into accusations of rape and sexual abuse made in Kentucky.

Who is Javier Loya? Javier Loya is a multimillionaire Houston businessman who was able to become a Texans minority owner at just 33. Now, he's in trouble with the NFL. Here's more on his background. Read More
One-upmanship: When Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud didn't high-five team CEO Cal McNair after the win over the Chiefs, the video went viral. The Texans topped it with a video of their own. Read More

College Football

Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman looks on prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. Bateman will serve as Kentucky's defensive coordinator next season.

Photo by: Jack Gorman, Getty Images

Another staff change for Aggies

Texas A&M defensive coordinator Jay Bateman is leaving for the same role at Kentucky just a week after Aggies offensive coordinator Collin Klein announced his exit.

Save these dates: Texas and Texas A&M will play on a day that's become a tradition of sorts for the longtime rivals as the SEC announces the dates for the 2026 schedule. Read More
Celebration Bowl: How to watch Prairie View play in the de facto national title game for HBCUs on Saturday. Read More

College Basketball

Texas Longhorns head coach Sean Miller coaches in the second half as the Longhorns take on the Rider Broncs at the Moody Center in Austin, Nov. 18, 2025.

Photo by: Sara Diggins, Austin American-Statesman

Knowing the Huskies

While coaching Xavier in the Big East, Texas coach Sean Miller met up with powerhouse UConn on multiple occasions. Can that help UT spring an upset tonight?

High School Football

Bryce Lyons, who suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this year, goes through physical therapy with athletic trainer Jeff Romig at C.E. King High School in Houston, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

'Do it for 12'

After suffering a devastating season-ending knee injury, C.E. King senior Bryce Lyons has given inspiration to his teammates as they've made a historic run to the state semifinals.

Herrmann banned: The UIL state executive committee suspended former Fort Bend Austin head football coach Trey Herrmann for one year and gave him three years of probation for a violation of eligibility rules. Read More