Porter scores 27 points, Rockets beat short-handed Lakers
HOUSTON (AP) Kevin Porter Jr. scored 27 points and the Houston Rockets beat the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers 114-110 on Wednesday night.
Los Angeles scored five points, with a 3-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 3 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-1 foul after a review, but Reaves made just 1 of 2 free throws and Houston held on.
Porter was disappointed that Houston let it get that close in the final seconds.
“We got a little comfortable,” he said. “We were up like eight or 10 ... when our youth kind of showed right there. We'll learn from that. We've got to stay focused until the last buzzer.”
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, who had 35 points and 17 rebounds in a win over New Orleans on Tuesday night, isn’t playing both games of back-to-back per doctors’ orders after coming back from a right foot injury.
“Houston - young team - and regardless of what their record is, they came to play,” coach Darvin Ham said. “And we felt them. They made us feel them in terms of them attacking the paint, them getting hits... (and) we should have been the ones playing with that type of edge.”
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 line for one of the last playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Porter had 18 points before halftime despite missing the last two minutes of the second quarter after sustaining a cut about his left eye. He was bleeding profusely as he held a towel to the cut as he walked to the locker room. He returned to start the third quarter with a band-aid covering the cut.
He said that he received some stitches and had glue put on the cut at halftime.
Coach Stephen Silas was impressed with Porter's peformance.
“He was great right from the start,” he said. “He was aggressive. He was making plays for his teammates... just a solid, complete game.”
Houston took advantage of the absence of Davis to dominate in the paint where the team outscored the Lakers 78-46.
The Rockets led by as many as 18 in the first half and had a 62-48 lead at halftime. That deficit came a night after Los Angeles led 75-40 at halftime after making a franchise-record 15 3-pointers in the first two quarters.
The Lakers used a 9-2 run to get to 79-74 with about three minutes left in the third quarter. Troy Brown Jr. made the first five points in that stretch and Wenyen Gabriel capped it with a basket.
But the Los Angeles offense went cold after that and didn’t score for the rest of the quarter as Houston got baskets from Jae’Sean Tate and Jalen Green to lead 83-74 after three.
TIP-INS
Lakers: James was out for the ninth straight game with a right foot injury. Mo Bamba missed a fifth straight game with a sprained left ankle. … Beasley had 16 points. ... Jarred Vanderbilt added 13 points with 11 rebounds. ... Gabriel had a career-high 15 rebounds.
Rockets: Alperen Sengun had 13 points and nine rebounds in his return after sitting out Monday night with a groin injury. … Kenyon Martin Jr. had 16 points and eight rebounds. ... Green scored 11 points.
HOUSTON'S GROWTH
Despite his team's record this season, Silas has seen growth in the Rockets in recent weeks.
“All of them have some sort of chip on their shoulders it seems,” he said. “They are young but they’re all competitive… and they really want to do the right thing. Sometimes we just don't because we're young, but they're a fun group to coach because they're all good guys.”
UP NEXT
Lakers: Host Dallas on Friday night.
Rockets: Host New Orleans on Friday and Sunday nights. --- AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Rui Hachimura vs. Jabari Smith Jr. (D'Angelo Russell gains possession) | ||
| 11:44 | | Alperen Sengun shooting foul (D'Angelo Russell draws the foul) | ||
| 11:44 |  | D'Angelo Russell misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 11:44 | | Lakers offensive rebound | ||
| 11:44 | | +1 | D'Angelo Russell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 1-0 |
| 11:29 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving hook shot | 1-2 |
| 11:18 | | Troy Brown Jr. offensive foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | ||
| 11:18 | | Troy Brown Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 11:01 | | +2 | Kenyon Martin Jr. makes two point cutting dunk (Alperen Sengun assists) | 1-4 |
| 10:42 | | Malik Beasley misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:41 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 10:23 | | +3 | Kevin Porter Jr. makes three point pullup jump shot | 1-7 |
| 10:16 | | +3 | D'Angelo Russell makes three point pullup jump shot | 4-7 |
| 10:01 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving layup | 4-9 |
| 9:47 | | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 6-9 |
| 9:27 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Kenyon Martin Jr. assists) | 6-12 |
| 9:19 | | D'Angelo Russell misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:18 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 9:00 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:57 | | Jalen Green offensive rebound | ||
| 8:50 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point driving finger roll layup | 6-14 |
| 8:39 | | +3 | Malik Beasley makes three point jump shot (Jarred Vanderbilt assists) | 9-14 |
| 8:18 | | Rui Hachimura blocks Alperen Sengun's two point driving layup | ||
| 8:18 | | Lakers defensive rebound | ||
| 8:07 | | D'Angelo Russell turnover (lost ball) (Alperen Sengun steals) | ||
| 8:01 | | +2 | Kevin Porter Jr. makes two point cutting dunk (Kenyon Martin Jr. assists) | 9-16 |
| 7:37 | | Jarred Vanderbilt misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:37 | | Kenyon Martin Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:29 | | Troy Brown Jr. shooting foul (Kevin Porter Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 7:29 | | Kevin Porter Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 7:29 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 7:29 | | +1 | Kevin Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-17 |
| 7:14 | | Malik Beasley misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:13 | | Kevin Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:06 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point driving finger roll layup (Kevin Porter Jr. assists) | 9-19 |
| 6:52 | | Rui Hachimura misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:51 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 6:39 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 6:38 | | Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound | ||
| 6:30 | | +2 | Jarred Vanderbilt makes two point alley-oop dunk (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 11-19 |
| 6:14 | | Jalen Green misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:13 | | Lakers defensive rebound | ||
| 6:13 | | Alperen Sengun personal foul (Loose ball) (Rui Hachimura draws the foul) | ||
| 6:13 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:13 | | Lakers delay of game violation | ||
| 5:49 | | Malik Beasley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:48 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 5:38 | | Kevin Porter Jr. offensive foul (Dennis Schroder draws the foul) | ||
| 5:38 | | Kevin Porter Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 5:22 | | Dennis Schroder misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:21 | | Kenyon Martin Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:12 | | Kenyon Martin Jr. misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 5:11 | | Kenyon Martin Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 5:07 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point hook shot (Kenyon Martin Jr. assists) | 11-21 |
| 4:49 | | Jarred Vanderbilt misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 4:47 | | Jarred Vanderbilt offensive rebound | ||
| 4:46 | | Jarred Vanderbilt misses two point tip layup | ||
| 4:45 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 4:32 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:31 | | Kevin Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 4:21 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:20 | | Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound | ||
| 4:12 | | +2 | D'Angelo Russell makes two point running layup (Jarred Vanderbilt assists) | 13-21 |
| 3:55 | | +2 | Kevin Porter Jr. makes two point turnaround jump shot | 13-23 |
| 3:54 | | Rockets delay of game violation | ||
| 3:40 | | Malik Beasley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:39 | | Kevin Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 3:20 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point cutting dunk (Kevin Porter Jr. assists) | 13-25 |
| 3:05 | | Kevin Porter Jr. personal foul (D'Angelo Russell draws the foul) | ||
| 2:57 | | Jabari Smith Jr. blocks Dennis Schroder's two point driving layup | ||
| 2:56 | | Wenyen Gabriel offensive rebound | ||
| 2:55 | | D'Angelo Russell turnover (traveling) | ||
| 2:55 | | Lakers 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:33 | | Jalen Green misses two point driving layup | ||
| 2:32 | | Troy Brown Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 2:21 | | Troy Brown Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Tari Eason steals) | ||
| 2:15 | | +2 | Kevin Porter Jr. makes two point driving finger roll layup | 13-27 |
| 1:54 | | +2 | Dennis Schroder makes two point driving floating jump shot | 15-27 |
| 1:37 | | Austin Reaves shooting foul (Kevin Porter Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 1:37 | | +1 | Kevin Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-28 |
| 1:37 | | +1 | Kevin Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-29 |
| 1:23 | | Jalen Green shooting foul (Lonnie Walker IV draws the foul) | ||
| 1:23 | | +1 | Lonnie Walker IV makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-29 |
| 1:23 | | +1 | Lonnie Walker IV makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-29 |
| 1:06 | | Usman Garuba misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:05 | | Jae'Sean Tate offensive rebound | ||
| 1:02 | | +2 | Jae'Sean Tate makes two point putback layup | 17-31 |
| 0:48 | | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point driving finger roll layup | 19-31 |
| 0:31 | | Jalen Green misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:30 | | Austin Reaves defensive rebound | ||
| 0:25 | | Austin Reaves turnover (traveling) | ||
| 0:03 | | Kevin Porter Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:02 | | Usman Garuba offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:42 | | +2 | Josh Christopher makes two point driving layup | 19-33 |
| 11:28 | | Josh Christopher shooting foul (Dennis Schroder draws the foul) | ||
| 11:28 | | Dennis Schroder misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 11:28 | | Lakers offensive rebound | ||
| 11:28 | | +1 | Dennis Schroder makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-33 |
| 11:15 | | +3 | Josh Christopher makes three point pullup jump shot (Jae'Sean Tate assists) | 20-36 |
| 11:02 | | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point driving floating jump shot | 22-36 |
| 10:48 | | Josh Christopher misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:47 | | Troy Brown Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 10:41 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 10:40 | | Josh Christopher defensive rebound | ||
| 10:22 | | +2 | Jae'Sean Tate makes two point driving reverse layup | 22-38 |
| 10:05 | | Troy Brown Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:04 | | Wenyen Gabriel offensive rebound | ||
| 9:50 | | Dennis Schroder misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:50 | | Lakers offensive rebound | ||
| 9:50 | | Lakers turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 9:34 | | Usman Garuba misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:34 | | Austin Reaves defensive rebound | ||
| 9:28 | | Jae'Sean Tate shooting foul (Austin Reaves draws the foul) | ||
| 9:28 | | Austin Reaves misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 9:28 | | Lakers offensive rebound | ||
| 9:28 | | +1 | Austin Reaves makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-38 |
| 9:16 | | Usman Garuba misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:15 | | Austin Reaves defensive rebound | ||
| 9:07 | | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point driving floating jump shot | 25-38 |
| 9:07 | | Usman Garuba shooting foul (Austin Reaves draws the foul) | ||
| 9:07 | | +1 | Austin Reaves makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 26-38 |
| 8:55 | | +2 | Usman Garuba makes two point dunk (Jae'Sean Tate assists) | 26-40 |
| 8:39 | | Josh Christopher personal foul (Wenyen Gabriel draws the foul) | ||
| 8:28 | | Austin Reaves misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:27 | | Tari Eason defensive rebound | ||
| 8:14 | | +2 | Josh Christopher makes two point driving floating jump shot | 26-42 |
| 7:59 | | +2 | Malik Beasley makes two point driving floating jump shot | 28-42 |
| 7:43 | | Jae'Sean Tate turnover (bad pass) (Wenyen Gabriel steals) | ||
| 7:39 | | +2 | Lonnie Walker IV makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Austin Reaves assists) | 30-42 |
| 7:30 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:20 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point dunk (Josh Christopher assists) | 30-44 |
| 6:53 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:53 | | Josh Christopher defensive rebound | ||
| 6:47 | | +2 | Josh Christopher makes two point running dunk | 30-46 |
| 6:33 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:32 | | Jarred Vanderbilt offensive rebound | ||
| 6:27 | | Malik Beasley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:26 | | Kenyon Martin Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 6:25 | | Kenyon Martin Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Malik Beasley steals) | ||
| 6:22 | | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point driving layup | 32-46 |
| 6:22 | | Jabari Smith Jr. shooting foul (Austin Reaves draws the foul) | ||
| 6:22 | | +1 | Austin Reaves makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 33-46 |
| 6:13 | | +2 | Kevin Porter Jr. makes two point driving finger roll layup | 33-48 |
| 6:00 | | Jarred Vanderbilt misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:58 | | Tari Eason defensive rebound | ||
| 5:38 | | Kevin Porter Jr. turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 5:23 | | Wenyen Gabriel misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:19 | | Rockets defensive rebound | ||
| 5:19 | | Jump ball. Alperen Sengun vs. Wenyen Gabriel (Jabari Smith Jr. gains possession) | ||
| 5:09 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point driving layup | ||
| 5:08 | | Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound | ||
| 5:04 | | +3 | D'Angelo Russell makes three point running jump shot (Jarred Vanderbilt assists) | 36-48 |
| 4:42 | | Malik Beasley shooting foul (Jabari Smith Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 4:42 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 4:42 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 4:42 | | +1 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 36-49 |
| 4:33 | | D'Angelo Russell misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:33 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 4:26 | | +2 | Jae'Sean Tate makes two point cutting layup (Alperen Sengun assists) | 36-51 |
| 4:26 | | Wenyen Gabriel shooting foul (Jae'Sean Tate draws the foul) | ||
| 4:26 | | +1 | Jae'Sean Tate makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 36-52 |
| 4:17 | | Jae'Sean Tate personal foul (Dennis Schroder draws the foul) | ||
| 4:17 |