THE Golden State Warriors won 118-113 at Denver Nuggets to take a 3-0 lead in the first round of the NBA Western Conference play-offs.
Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole each scored 27 points for Warriors, who are aiming for their first championship in four years.
They will seal the series with another win at the Ball Arena tomorrow.
Nikola Jokic had 37 points for Denver, who have lost seven consecutive play-off games dating back to last season.
Dallas Mavericks survived a fightback by Utah Jazz to win 126-118 in Salt Lake City and take a 2-1 lead in their series.
Jalen Brunson with 31 points led seven different Dallas players to reach double digits, which compensated for the absence of Slovenian Luka Doncic, who has yet to play in the series because of a calf strain.
Also in the Western Conference on Thursday, Desmond Bane scored 26 points to lift Memphis Grizzlies to a 104-95 win at Minnesota Timberwolves.
Bane sank seven three-pointers as second-seeded Grizzlies overcame a 26-point deficit in Minneapolis to lead the series 2-1. (BBC Sport)