James Harden lit up the Mavericks with a playoff career high 42 points to lift Houston to a 3-0 series lead Friday in a game where absolutely no one played defense. Harden went 15-of-24 from the field and hit five 3-pointers

Harden fouled Dirk Nowitzki outside the arc and sent the German to the line for three free throws — Nowitzki hit all three to bring the Mavs within one — but on the next trip down the floor Harden drilled a step-back jumper.

The Mavericks scored quickly and had a chance after Houston’s Corey Brewer split free throws, but Monta Ellis missed a buzzer-beater that would have sent the game to overtime.