Philadelphia takes lead over Detroit
PHILADELPHIA, April 25 (UPI) -- Samuel Dalembert scored 22 points Friday and Philadelphia limited Detroit to 40 percent shooting in recording a 95-75 playoff win over the Pistons.
The 76ers took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series and will try to expand that advantage Sunday in Game 4 in Philadelphia.
Andre Miller added 21 points and Thaddeus Young had 10 for the Sixers, who forced 23 Detroit turnovers. Philadelphia overcame a difficult night for leading scorer Andre Iguodala, who made just two of nine shots from the field and scored 10 points.
Richard Hamilton led Detroit with 23 points, but was in foul trouble throughout the second half.
The Pistons trailed by just four at halftime, but did not make a field goal during the first 12 minutes of the third quarter.
NFL Draft opens Saturday
NEW YORK, April 25 (UPI) -- The NFL Draft begins Saturday with all the suspense concerning the No. 1 pick having been wiped out by Miami's signing of offensive tackle Jake Long.
First-round trades have been forecast during the days leading up to the draft, but barring any moves at the top of the selection process, Miami will be followed by St. Louis, Atlanta, Oakland and Kansas City.
Kansas City moved into the No. 5 slot through a trade with Minnesota and the Chiefs now own two first-round choices.
Having won only one game in 2007, the Dolphins need help throughout. Under the guidance of new front-office boss Bill Parcells, however, the Dolphins decided to keep the No. 1 pick and take Long -- a product of the University of Michigan who will be the first offensive tackle taken at the top of the draft since Orlando Pace went to St. Louis in 1997.
The only other offensive tackle taken at No. 1 since the draft started in 1936 was Ron Yary, who was chosen by Minnesota in 1968.
The draft will begin at 3 p.m. EDT with only two rounds scheduled to be concluded Saturday. The remaining five rounds will be conducted Sunday.
Adam Scott leads at Byron Nelson
IRVING, Texas, April 25 (UPI) -- Adam Scott, the only player in the world top 10 playing in the event, took the lead Friday after two rounds of the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas.
The 10th-ranked Scott fired a 3-under 69 and his 5-under 135 total put him one shot in front of Scott McCarron, Mark Hensby and first-round co-leader Matthew Goggin.
Scott birdied his first four holes and then battled the revamped TPC-Four Seasons golf course and the blustery winds for the rest of the day.
"It was a fast start, which was very handy this morning," Scott said. "But after that it was a bit of a battle, a fair bit of scrambling going on. The conditions were tricky. It was hard to hit fairways and hard to hit greens, hard to hit it close."
Justin Leonard, Parker McLachlin, Charley Hoffman, Roland Thatcher and Ryan Moore were tied for fifth at 137.
Trevor Immelman, playing for the first time since winning the Masters this month, shot a 75 and missed the cut by 10 strokes.
Josh Howard admits marijuana use
DALLAS, April 25 (UPI) -- Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard admitted during a radio show Friday that he has smoked marijuana in the off-season.
Speaking with former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, who originates a nationwide talk show from Dallas, Howard said he was not alone.
"Everybody in the media world and the sports world knows NBA players do smoke marijuana," Howard said. "Most of the players in the league use marijuana and I have and do partake in smoking weed in the off-season sometimes.
"I mean, that's my personal choice and my personal opinion, but I don't think that's stopping me from doing my job."
The Mavericks went into Friday's playoff game against New Orleans facing a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-seven quarterfinal series.
Howard has been criticized for his performance early in the series, having averaged 13.5 points per game while making just 26 percent of his shots from the field.
Under the NBA's drug policy, players have to undergo four random tests every season. A player who tests positive for marijuana use is not subject to suspension until a third strike.
