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The speedy Frenchman poured in a career-high 41 points with 12 assists, and the visiting Spurs routed the Phoenix Suns 115-99 on Friday night, to grab a commanding 3-0 advantage in the opening round of their Western Conference best-of-seven play-off series.

 "I wanted to make sure I was aggressive and see what happens," said Parker, who hit 17 of 26 shots in 40 minutes on a variety of drives to the basket. "They were backing off on the pick and rolls, so I took every shot and it felt good tonight."

   Tim Duncan scored 23 points, while Argentine Manu Ginobili added 20 for the Spurs, who shot a sizzling 56 per cent from the field (46- of-82) in the wire-to-wire blow-out.

 "It was pretty close to our best game for 48 minutes," Duncan said. "We stuck to our game plan, defensively we were pretty solid and we got the shots we wanted."

   The defending NBA Champion Spurs can complete the improbable sweep with another road victory on Sunday, but they know it won't be easy.

 "Close-out games are tough because everybody plays harder," Duncan explained. "We expect them to play their best game in front of their home crowd. They don't want to end their season this way. We're going to have to come in and bring the same intensity we had tonight."

   Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Brazilian Leandro Barbosa scored 20, Shaquille O'Neal had 19, but Steve Nash was held to just seven.

 "We didn't play well and we didn't have answers for them, obviously," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "They were almost perfect. Everything went there way, or they made it go their way."

   The Suns picked the wrong time to go on their first three-game losing streak of the season, because no team in play-off history has ever overcome a 0-3 deficit.

 "We have to come back on Sunday, give ourselves a chance to win and see what happens," D'Antoni added.

 Parker took over early and never let up. The 2007 NBA Finals MVP shredded the Suns' Swiss cheese defence for 13 first-quarter points, sparking the Spurs to a 33-19 cushion. He finished the half with 19, and the lead was 61-47.

 Parker continued to confound the Suns with 11 points in the third quarter as the gap widened to 91-72. He added 11 more in the final frame en route to easy victory.

 Elsewhere:

   Dallas Mavericks 97, New Orleans Hornets 87

   Earlier in the day, Josh Howard admitted to smoking marijuana. Hours later his teammates took him on a different type of high.

 Reigning league MVP Dirk Nowitzki had 32 points with 19 rebounds and six assists as the Mavericks smoked the visiting Hornets to pull within 2-1 in the first-round of their Western Conference series.

 "The energy was great in the building for us," Nowitzki said. "The fans got us hyped early. Our defence was a lot better. We were scrambling, going after loose balls and once we got the rebound, (Jason) Kidd was off to the races."

   Nowitzki's jumper and free throw with 6:45 remaining gave the Mavs an 87-82 edge. The Hornets cut the lead to 90-83 with two minutes left, but Jason Terry buried a three-point dagger off a Howard drive- and-kick.

 Terry scored 22 points and Howard chipped in with 18 for the Mavericks, who host game four on Sunday night, where they've beaten the Hornets 14 consecutive times since January 24, 1998.

 The free-spirited Howard made the stunning and untimely announcement on a local radio show, saying: "Most of the players in the league use marijuana. I have and do partake in smoking weed in the off season, sometimes.

 "It's my personal choice and my personal opinion, but I don't think that's stopping me from doing my job."

   Mavs owner Mark Cuban has met with Howard and will handle the situation internally. However, the former All-Star forward is expected to be drug-tested and attend counselling.

 With All-Stars Chris Paul and David West struggling, Jannero Pargo led the Hornets with a play-off career-high 30 points. Paul made just four of 18 shots and had 16 points along with 10 assists. Meanwhile, West made just six of 20 shots to finish with 14 points.

 Philadelphia 76ers 95, Detroit Pistons 75

   Samuel Dalembert had 22 points with 16 rebounds, and the Sixers spanked the visiting Pistons to take a surprising 2-1 lead in the opening round of their Eastern Conference series.

 "There was a perception that we would come out and beat this team in four or five games," Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince said. "It doesn't matter who you play if you don't come out with aggressiveness, especially when you are playing a young team."

   Andre Miller tallied 21 points for Philadelphia, which outscored their guests, 51-35 in the second half.

 Richard Hamilton scored 23 points and Prince added 18 for the Pistons, who committed a season-high 25 turnovers in the blow-out. Philadelphia hosts game four on Sunday.

By Paul Levine, dpa