article_snippet.sent: Elsewhere, Houston's James Harden and Dwight Howard set personal play-off bests in points and rebounds respectively as the Rockets edged Dallas 130-128  to take a 3-0 lead in the all-Texan NBA first-round playoff series.
article_snippet.sent: the Rockets moved to within one win of a place in the next round with victory in Dallas .
article_snippet.sent: the Rockets the Rockets moved within one win of a berth in the last eight of the play-offs, as did Washington with a close-fought win over Toronto.
article_snippet.sent: The high-scoring game was Dallas first without effectively banished point guard Rajon Rondo, and Monta Ellis had a play-off career-high 34 points to match Dirk Nowitzki.
article_snippet.sent: Monta Ellis missed a potential tying jumper just before the buzzer, leaving Dallas to face a fourth straight year without winning a postseason series since taking the franchise's first championship.
highlights_snippet.sent: Houston Rockets move 3-0 ahead on Dallas Mavericks with 130-128 win .
  