Malik Beasley of the Los Angeles Lakers, right, fumbles for the ball under pressure from Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

HOUSTON (AP) — With 27 points from Kevin Porter Jr., the Houston Rockets prevailed over the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers 114-110 on Wednesday night.

The Lakers scored five points, with a three from Rui Hachimura, to drop to under four early in the fourth quarter. The Rockets responded with an 8-0 run, the first five points coming from rookie Jabari Smith Jr., to trail 96-83.

The Rockets led by eight with 7.2 seconds left before Malik Beasley hit a 3-pointer for the Lakers to close the gap to 114-109. Then Austin Reaves stole and was fouled by Porter with 0.3 seconds remaining. It was ruled a flagrant-1 foul after review, but Reaves only made one of two free throws and Houston held on.

It was the second straight victory for the Rockets, the worst team in the Western Conference, which beat Boston on Monday night.

LeBron James was out with an injury at the Lakers, along with Anthony Davis against Houston. Davis, who finished with 35 points and 17 rebounds in Tuesday night’s win over New Orleans, has missed consecutive games on doctor’s orders after returning from a sprained right foot.

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