HOUSTON, March 14 (UPI) -- Kyle Lowry sank a pair of key baskets late in the game Monday and the Houston Rockets hung on to post a 95-93 victory over Phoenix.
Lowry's jumper with 1:39 left in the fourth quarter gave the Rockets a 91-89 lead. After the Suns' Josh Childress tied it, Lowry connected on a 23-footer with only a minute to go, giving Houston the lead for good.
Jared Dudley of Phoenix missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer and the Rockets kept their playoff hopes alive, staying within three games of the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Lowry ended with 18 points while Kevin Martin led Houston with 23 and Chuck Hayes added 21 points to go with nine rebounds.
Phoenix, which played its second straight game without injured all-star guard Steve Nash, was led by Vince Carter's 21 points.
The Suns fell 2 1/2 games behind Memphis in the chase for the eighth and last playoff seed in the West.
