Sports briefs

GOLF

McDowell takes lead

Graeme McDowell opened with three straight birdies yesterday and finished with a 6-under 66 to take a three-shot lead in the World Challenge at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Bo Van Pelt had to save bogey on the last hole for a 68, leaving him tied for second with Keegan Bradley and Jim Furyk, who each had a 69. Tournament host and defending champion Tiger Woods was tied for the lead at one point on the back nine but shot a 69 and was four shots behind.

NBALakers hit 17 three-pointers

Antawn Jamison scored 33 points off the bench and Dwight Howard had 28 points and 20 rebounds, hitting the second three-pointer of his career in the final seconds of a 122-103 victory over the visiting Nuggets. Jodie Meeks scored 21 points on seven three-pointers and Jamison added five treys for the Lakers, who hit 17 shots from beyond the arc in improving to 3-3 under Mike D'Antoni. Jamison had the first 30-point game by a Lakers reserve since 1998.

Evan Turner had 25 points as the visiting 76ers beat the Bobcats, 104-98, for their third straight win. Jrue Holliday had a career-high 15 assists . . . Jeff Green had 19 points and Jason Terry added 17 as the host Celtics beat the Trail Blazers, 96-78.

COURTSMurder charges dropped

The arrest of a USTA tennis referee in her husband's death was a shocker last summer. Yesterday the case took another surprise twist when prosecutors in Los Angeles dropped the murder case against Lois Goodman. The case was dismissed by Superior Court Judge Jessica Silvers after prosecutors said they received additional information and were unable to proceed. "I feel I'm being treated fairly now. It was just a terrible accident," Goodman, 70, said outside court. Defense attorney Alison Triessl said she believed private polygraph tests conducted by a former FBI polygraph examiner were pivotal in proving that Goodman did not kill her husband. Goodman was arrested by Los Angeles police in New York in August as she arrived to serve as a line judge at the U.S. Open.

NFL

Strahan among nominees

Former Giant Michael Strahan is among 27 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2013 class. Strahan retired after the Giants won the Super Bowl following the 2007 season. He had 1411/2 sacks, including a league-record 221/2 in 2001.WINTER SPORTS

Vonn wins downhill

Lindsey Vonn won the season-opening downhill for her 12th career World Cup victory at Lake Louise, Alberta. Vonn finished in 1 minute, 52.61 seconds to beat American Stacey Cook by 1.73 seconds. -- AP