Thunder 104, Rockets 101: Kevin Durant hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 41.9 seconds left and matched his career playoff high with 41 points as visiting Oklahoma City overcame the loss of Russell Westbrook and held off a potent Houston charge to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference best-of-seven series.

Serge Ibaka added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Thunder and pressured Carlos Delfino into missing a tying 3-point attempt from the right corner as time expired. Oklahoma City learned earlier Saturday that Westbrook is out for the postseason after undergoing knee surgery for an injury suffered in Game 2.

James Harden scored 30 points, Chandler Parsons added 21 and Francisco Garcia had 18 for the Rockets, who recovered from a 26-point first-half deficit to briefly take the lead in the final quarter. Game 4 is Monday in Houston.

The Rockets trailed 78-62 with less than five minutes to go in the third quarter before catching fire to trail by four entering the final stanza. Houston finally caught the Thunder at 91 on a 3-pointer by Parsons with 5:45 left and took a 94-93 lead on a 3-pointer by Delfino with 3:45 remaining.

Durant exploded for 17 first-half points to give Oklahoma City a 39-19 lead. The lead was 26 early in the second quarter before Oklahoma City settled for a 66-49 lead at the break.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Durant also grabbed 14 rebounds as the Thunder had a 49-41 edge on the boards. … PG Reggie Jackson started in place of Westbrook and had 14 points in 25 minutes. … Rockets PG Jeremy Lin attempted to play through a chest injury but had just two points on 1-for-6 shooting in 18 minutes before exiting.