Rockets 95, Suns 93
Kevin Martin scored 23 points and Kyle Lowry drained the go-ahead jumper as the host Houston Rockets snapped a seven-game losing streak to the undermanned Phoenix Suns 95-93 on Monday.
Chuck Hayes had 21 points and nine rebounds, and Lowry added 18 points for the Rockets (34-34), who halted a two-game losing streak overall and remain three games behind Memphis for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Phoenix (33-32) dropped 2½ games behind Memphis.
Vince Carter scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half for the Suns, who lost their third straight and played without point guard Steve Nash and center Channing Frye.
Lowry hit a wide-open jumper from the right wing off a drive from Martin for a 93-91 lead with one minute left. Houston survived Hayes missing three of four free throws in the last 30 seconds and a wide-open 3-pointer from the left wing by Jared Dudley as time expired.
Houston jumped to a 27-12 lead early and maintained a comfortable margin until Phoenix mounted a rally midway through the fourth with an 18-8 run, including a 3-pointer from Zabian Dowdell which tied it at 89 with two minutes left.
Lowry then hit a runner, but the Suns’ Josh Childress matched that hoop with a follow slam with 1:21 left.
Houston forward Luis Scola missed his third straight game with a strained left knee.