A play-off career high 32 points from Kawhi Leonard helped the San Antonio Spurs on their way to a 100-73 mauling of the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 3 on Friday. The newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year was in excellent form for the reigning NBA champions as they took a 2-1 lead in the first-round series. The Clippers had won the first game of the series convincingly at the Staples Center, but must now come from behind after two straight defeats. Game 4 takes place on Sunday at the AT&T Center in Texas. Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday . Loenard led the Spurs to a 100-73 victory in Game 3 and into a 2-1 series lead against the Clippers . Leonard is presented with his NBA Defensive Player of the Year award by his team-mate Tim Duncan . Boris Diaw had 15 points and Danny Green added 11 for the Spurs, who led by as many as 37 points after two close games in Los Angeles. The Clippers scored a franchise postseason low and their 11 points in the third were their fewest in any quarter this season. Blake Griffin had 14 points and 10 rebounds and DeAndre Jordan added 10 points for the Clippers. Griffin averaged 27.5 points on 47 percent shooting in the first two games, but was held to 6-for-15 shooting against a collapsing Spurs' defence in Game 3. 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. The Clippers took a 1-0 lead in the series but must now come from behind after two straight defeats . Houston Rockets moved to within one win of a place in the next round with victory in Dallas . 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. Harden scored 42 points in a dominating role after deferring to Howard and role players in the first two wins. Howard dominated the boards, pulling in 26 rebounds. 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. 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. Dwight Howard scored 13 points but had 26 rebounds for Houston in their 130-128 victory on Friday . Paul Pierce hit a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter to give Washington a 3-0 lead over the Toronto Raptors . Game 4 is Sunday at Dallas. No team has ever rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA postseason series. That unlikely challenge now also faces Toronto after Washington went ahead 3-0 with a 106-99 victory over the Raptors. John Wall had 19 points and 15 assists and 37-year-old Paul Pierce hit two key late 3-pointers for the Wizards. Six Wizards scored in double figures, including Marcin Gortat, who had 24 points and 13 rebounds. Pierce's 18 points were highlighted by a 3-pointer that capped a 10-2 run with 2 minutes left, and another with 16.3 seconds remaining after Toronto got within three points. Washington can clinch the series when its hosts Game 4 on Sunday. Toronto was paced by DeMar DeRozan, who scored a team playoff-record 20 points in the first quarter and 32 overall, and the Raptors led by 10 points early. But the Raptors were too inconsistent, just as they have been all series.
San Antonio Spurs beat Los Angeles Clippers 100-73 in Game 3.
Kawhi Leonard scores 32 points as Spurs take 2-1 lead in series.
Game 4 takes place on Sunday at the AT&T Center in Texas.
Houston Rockets move 3-0 ahead on Dallas Mavericks with 130-128 win.
Washington Wizards beat Toronto Raptors 106-99 in Game 3.