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 "There is really not much else I can say," McHale said. "I have seen
it a lot this year. The guy played fantastic. It was a big game, we
needed him to play well and he did. He stepped up."
Harden scored a career-playoff-high 42 points and dished out nine
assists to lead the Rockets to the brink of the Western Conference
semifinals. Houston can close out the best-of-seven playoff series
with a victory Sunday night back at American Airlines Center.
Houston trailed by 13 in the first half before storming back behind
Harden, who scored 16 in third quarter and knocked down a jumper
with 13 seconds left that helped nail down the win. He made 15 of 24
shots, including 5 of 7 from 3-point territory, to better his
previous postseason high of 37 points set last year.
"This game there were no traps or anything like that," Harden said.
"They were just giving me lanes. They were letting me be aggressive.
I shot it and read the plays and try to make the best decisions."
Rockets center Dwight Howard pulled down a playoff-career-best 26
rebounds and scored 13 points. His childhood friend, forward Josh
Smith, had 18 points off the bench.
"We had three good games and we have to close this team out," Howard
said. "It's tough to beat a team four times and we just have to stay
the course. We can't allow these first three games to dictate on how
we play this last game. We have to come out and hit them early and
try to put them away and not give them any light."
The Mavericks, buoyed by playing in front of their home fans for the
first time in the series, now face the seemingly impossible task of
winning four straight games to advance.
No team in NBA history has come back to win a series after falling
behind 3-0.
The Mavericks had their chances in the final minute. Power forward
Dirk Nowitzki (34 points) drilled three free throws with 34 seconds
remaining to pull Dallas within 127-126.
Harden followed with his final basket before Dallas shooting guard
Monta Ellis banked in a driving layup to make it a one-point game
again. Rockets reserve guard Corey Brewer (15 points) made one of
two free throws, giving Dallas one last shot.
Ellis, however, couldn't add to the highest scoring game of his
playoff career as he missed a jumper badly from the top of the key
as time expired. Ellis finished with 34 points on 15-of-25 shooting.
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle appreciated his team's effort throughout
the game and against the league's second-leading scorer. Harden's
final made basket rattled around before falling.
"He made a lot of difficult shots tonight," Carlisle said. "The
decisive shot was a contested 2, and it's in-and-out, and then it's
back in, again. And they got some good fortune on that bounce, and
then we just weren't able to get the last shot to go in."
[to top of second column] |
Dallas came in with two starters out due to injury, at least
officially. Small forward Chandler Parsons is headed for knee
surgery, but the saga of point guard Rajon Rondo isn't nearly as
clear cut.
The Mavs claim Rondo has a back injury, but speculation persists
that the disgruntled veteran was essentially banished. The cloud
over the franchise was obvious.
"It's been a strange couple of days for this franchise," Nowitzki
said before Game 3. "But when you're down and stuff is not really
going right, you focus on yourself and what you have to do to get
ready to play. You focus on the guys that are here."
The Rockets jumped out to a 12-point lead in the first quarter
behind Harden and forward Terrence Jones, who both reached
double-figure scoring early.
Dallas closed the gap by the end of the period, tied it early in the
second and inched ahead 50-49 on center Tyson Chandler's dunk midway
through the quarter.
The Mavs, on the strength of a 13-0 run, led by as much as 13 before
settling into a 72-65 advantage at the break.
NOTES: Dallas announced that G Rajon Rondo left the team to deal
with a back injury that occurred in Game 2. Coach Rick Carlisle
acknowledged that Rondo, a free agent this summer who clashed with
Carlisle at times this season, likely won't ever play for the
Mavericks again. "It's time to move on," Carlisle said. G Raymond
Felton started Game 3. ... Mavs F Chandler Parsons (knee) has been
ruled out for the rest of the playoffs and is exploring surgical
options. ... Houston C Dwight Howard posted his 55th career
postseason double-double with 13 points, a playoff-career-high 26
rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in 38 minutes.
... Dallas G Devin Harris (toe) returned after missing the series'
first two games.
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