Houston, last in the West, slows shorthanded Los Angeles’s postseason push

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 27 points, and the host Houston Rockets beat the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers, 114-110, on Wednesday night.

Los Angeles scored five points, with a three-pointer from Rui Hachimura, to get within four early in the fourth quarter. The Rockets countered with an 8-0 run, with the first five points from rookie Jabari Smith Jr., to push it to 96-83.

The Rockets were up by eight with 7.2 seconds to go before Malik Beasley hit a three for the Lakers to cut the lead to 114-109. Austin Reaves then got a steal, and Porter fouled him with 0.3 seconds remaining. It was ruled a flagrant-one foul after a review, but Reaves made just 1 of 2 free throws, and Houston held on.

It’s the second straight victory for the Western Conference-worst Rockets, who beat Boston on Monday night.

Already without Lebron James because of an injury, the Lakers were also missing Anthony Davis against Houston. Davis isn’t playing both games of back-to-backs per doctors’ orders after coming back from a right foot injury.

Reaves had 24 points off the bench and D’angelo Russell added 18 as the Lakers lost for the second time in three games as they fight to stay in the Western Conference playoff race.

● KINGS 117, BULLS 114: De’aaron Fox sank a three-pointer from 26 feet to break a tie with 0.1 seconds to play, lifting Sacramento over host Chicago.

The Bulls had tied the game when Demar Derozan was fouled while making a three-pointer with 12.1 seconds to play and made the ensuing free throw.

Fox finished with 32 points for the Kings, who made 18 of 42 three-pointers (42.9 percent).

Derozan scored 33 for Chicago.

● HEAT 138, GRIZZLIES 119: Bam Adebayo scored 26 points, Tyler Herro added 24, and host Miami topped Memphis and moved within two games of idle Brooklyn for the No. 6 spot — and final guaranteed playoff berth — in the Eastern Conference.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 25 for Memphis.

● 76ERS 118, CAVALIERS 109: Joel Embiid had 36 points and 18 rebounds and played the final 4:12 after initially being called for his sixth foul, leading Philadelphia over host Cleveland for its sixth straight victory.

James Harden added 28 points for Philadelphia.

As Cleveland fans began to celebrate Embiid’s apparent disqualification, 76ers Coach Doc Rivers immediately challenged the call, which was overturned after a replay review. The superstar was allowed to stay on the floor.

Caris Levert scored 24 points for the Cavaliers.

● CELTICS 104, TIMBERWOLVES 102: In Minneapolis, Jaylen Brown scored 35 points, and Jayson Tatum added 22 as Boston held on to beat Minnesota for its third win in four games.

Anthony Edwards had 28 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have lost three of four.

Before the game, Minnesota announced that injured star KarlAnthony Towns is expected to return to action “in the coming weeks.” Minnesota’s game against Boston was the 49th straight missed by the three-time all-star big man with a severely strained right calf muscle.

● MAVERICKS 137, SPURS 128 (OT): Christian Wood scored 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds off the bench, and Dallas used a balanced attack with five players scoring at least 20 points to get past host San Antonio in overtime without injured all-stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Doncic missed his third consecutive game with a left thigh strain. Irving missed his third straight game with foot soreness.

Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 27 points.

Warriors lose Iguodala

The Golden State Warriors announced that forward Andre Iguodala will undergo surgery next week after fracturing his left wrist in a game against the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

The team did not give a timetable for his return.