Per Shams Charania at The Athletic, Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons has been cleared to play by the team’s medical staff, though a return to game action might not be in the immediate cards.

Parsons, who has been out since Oct. 24 with right knee swelling, participated in a full five-on-five team scrimmage on Saturday in Sacramento, sources said. https://t.co/JR5cvvD0NZ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 24, 2018

A recent report in the Memphis Commercial-Appeal had indicated Parsons’ condition was improving and that an official update could be forthcoming after Sunday’s road trip closes in Los Angeles against the Lakers (9:30 ET, NBA LP).

Parsons has been out since October 24 with right knee/back soreness. The eighth-year veteran has only made three appearances this season, his third with Memphis after signing a four-year deal in 2016.

He’s played just 73 games since the start of 2016-17, after four years of 60-plus campaigns, and has already missed 29 in the current seasons.

Free agent guard Austin Rivers has reached an agreement with the Houston Rockets, according to reports from Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Rockets reach agreement to sign guard Austin Rivers, source said.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 23, 2018

Rivers, who started the season with the Washington Wizards, was traded to the Phoenix Suns last week and waived one day after being acquired. He became an unrestricted free agent after clearing waivers. 

The Rockets have an immediate need for guard depth after starting point guard Chris Paul was sidelined on Thursday for two weeks with a grade 2 strain of his left hamstring.

Austin Rivers will take over some minutes in the absence of his ex-Clippers teammate Chris Paul. https://t.co/hQZtKq2fLJ

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 23, 2018

Clearly there’s some unpleasant Clippers history between Paul and Rivers but sources say there were no objections to signing Rivers with the Rockets needing backcourt depth. Paul’s projected to have a 2-3 week absence with a strained hamstring. https://t.co/Rzh1YUakii

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 23, 2018

Rivers appeared in 29 games for Washington, averaging 7.2 points while shooting 39 percent from the field. He averaged 15.1 points last season for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Come Christmas Day 2018, LeBron James and his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, will be in the national TV spotlight. They have a date with Golden State (8 ET, ABC/ESPN), a team James knows plenty well after matching up with the Warriors in each of the last four NBA Finals. 

For James, though, playing on Christmas Day has become a habit. This will mark the 11th consecutive Christmas in which a James-led team has played on the holiday and the 13th Christmas Day game in James’ 16-season career. As the big showdown approaches, let’s take a look back at James’ past Christmas Day games.

* * *

2003: Cavs at Magic

Final score:  Magic 113, Cavs 101 (OT)

LeBron’s stats:  34 points, 13-28 FG, 4-10 3pt FG, 2 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl in 47 minutes | Box score

The buzz:  In a matchup of two of the NBA’s youngest and most brilliant scoring phenoms, Tracy McGrady and the Magic powered past the rookie James and the Cavs. And, in another blast from the past, Juwan Howard teamed with McGrady in overtime to score 14 of Orlando’s 16 points.

2007: Cavs vs. Heat

Final score:  Cavs 96, Heat 82

LeBron’s stats:  25 points, 9-19 FG, 0-3 3pt FG, 6 reb, 12 ast in 38 minutes | Box score

The buzz:  After three years out of the Christmas Day spotlight, James made his presence felt in vanquishing good friend Dwyane Wade and the Heat. Cleveland turned up its defense in the third quarter to spark the win, a run that was capped by a monster James jam with 1:50 left in the quarter.

2008: Cavs vs. Wizards

Final score:  Cavs 93, Wizards 89

LeBron’s stats:  18 points, 6-13 FG, 0-2 3pt FG, 5 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl in 38 minutes | Box score

The buzz:  This matchup looked enticing before the season began, but by Christmas Day it was hardly that. Injuries had Washington off to a 4-22 start and although the Wizards put up an admirable fight, the Cavs held on late to improve to 15-0 at home.

2009: Cavs at Lakers

Final score:  Cavs 102, Lakers 87

LeBron’s stats:  26 points, 9-19 FG, 2-7 3pt FG, 4 reb, 9 ast, 2 stl in 40 minutes | Box score

The buzz:  This showdown matched two of the NBA’s best teams at the time — remember, the Lakers would go on to win the 2010 Finals — and two of its best players in LeBron and Kobe Bryant. This game, however, was about LeBron’s help (Mo Williams and Shaquille O’Neal, in particular), the Cavs’ physical play and their defense that frustrated the Lakers time and again.

2010: Heat at Lakers

Final score:  Heat 96, Lakers 80

LeBron’s stats:  27 points, 8-14 FG, 5-6 3pt FG, 11 reb, 10 ast, 4 stl in 38 minutes | Box score

The buzz:  Two months into his debut season with Miami, the reigning two-time Kia MVP James put on a show at Staples Center. He logged a triple-double — the 31st of his career — and traded words with Bryant throughout the game, which had a decidedly playoff-type atmosphere.

2011: Heat at Mavericks

Final score:  Heat 105, Mavericks 94

LeBron’s stats:  37 points, 11-19 FG, 10 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk in 36 minutes | Box score

The buzz:  A lockout-shortened season got started with a rematch of the 2010 Finals and James’ loss in that series was clearly on his mind. James and Wade fueled the Heat blowout as James flirted with another Christmas Day triple-double, all of which got his eventual Kia MVP season off to a roaring success.

2012: Heat vs. Thunder

Final score:  Heat 103, Thunder 97

LeBron’s stats:  29 points, 12-20 FG, 0-3 3pt FG, 8 reb, 9 ast, 2 stl in 41 minutes | Box score

The buzz:  This Finals rematch lived up to the hype, as OKC’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook each missed potential game-tying 3-pointers in the final 15 seconds. As for James, he racked up his sixth straight win on Christmas, all while barking back and forth at Durant throughout the game.

2013: Heat at Lakers

Final score:  Heat 101, Lakers 95

LeBron’s stats:  19 points, 7-14 FG, 0-4 3pt FG, 8 reb, 4 ast in 35 minutes | Box score

The buzz:  Bryant wasn’t able to suit up for this game due to a knee injury, but the role player-laden Lakers gave the Heat a game nonetheless. James did most of his damage in the first quarter (10 points on 4-for-5 shooting) as Miami improved to 8-2 in Christmas games (in what was their final LeBron-led game on the holiday).

2014: Cavs at Heat

Final score:  Heat 101, Cavs 91

LeBron’s stats:  30 points, 9-16 FG, 2-8 3pt FG, 4 reb, 8 ast in 40 minutes | Box score

The buzz:  Five months after returning to Cleveland via free agency, James got his first shot at the Heat as an opposing player in eight-plus years. James, however, was upstaged by a former teammate (Wade) and the guy who took his old job (Luol Deng) in a much-hyped Christmas matchup.

2015: Cavs at Warriors

Final score:  Warriors 89, Cavs 83

LeBron’s stats:  25 points, 10-26 FG, 1-5 3pt FG, 9 reb, 2 ast in 38 minutes | Box score

The buzz:  The Cavs and Warriors provided plenty of thrills in the 2015 Finals, and their rematch six months later kept that theme going. Although James and Co. faltered, both teams were fully healthy for this contest (which wasn’t the case in the 2015 Finals). Outcome aside, this game was a harbinger for an epic 2016 Finals that Cleveland took to claim its long-sought first NBA title. 

2016: Cavs vs. Warriors

Final score: Cavs 109, Warriors 108

LeBron’s stats: 31 points, 12-22 FG, 4-8 3pt FG, 13 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl in 40 minutes | Box score

The buzz:  This game had to feel like deja vu for the Warriors, as they watched a lead in a key game against the Cavs dwindle in heartbreaking fashion (much like Golden State’s Game 7 in the 2016 Finals). This marked the first matchup between James and Durant on Christmas since 2012 as well. And, with his performance in this game, James became the third player to surpass 300 points on the holiday, joining Kobe Bryant (395) and Oscar Robertson (377).

2017: Cavs at Warriors

Final score:  Warriors 99, Cavs 92

LeBron’s stats:  20 points, 7-18 FG, 2-7 3pt FG, 6 reb, 6 ast in 40 minutes | Box score

The buzz:  James’ final Christmas Day game with the Cavs turned out to be a classic showdown with the rival Warriors. LeBron had a chance to cut the Warriors’ lead to one with 24.5 seconds left, but his shot was blocked by Durant. The ball went off James and Golden State iced the game from there at the free-throw line.