Little-used Jeremy Lin had career highs of 25 points, seven assists and five rebounds as the host New York Knicks turned boos into cheers with a much-needed 99-92 NBA victory over the New Jersey Nets on Saturday night.
It was an unimaginable performance from Lin, who received no college scholarship offers and was cut by Golden State and Houston prior to this season. The Knicks signed him only to fill their roster.
“I think New Jersey didn’t have a scouting report on him,” Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire said.
“It just hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Lin.
Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler scored 17 points each for the Knicks (9-15), who had lost five of six, leading to speculation about coach Mike D’Antoni’s job security.
Asked about playing Lin for 36 minutes in a pivotal game, D’Antoni joked, “I’m panicking.”
After excruciating losses to Chicago and Boston the last two nights, the Knicks fell behind by 12 points late in the first quarter and were booed by the home crowd.
Matched up against Nets star Deron Williams, Lin had two three-point plays late in the third period, then sank two jumpers early in the fourth quarter to give the Knicks an 80-77 lead.
Lin had another three-point play and layup to extend the margin to 97-86 with 1:36 left. At the buzzer, he was mobbed by his team-mates.
“There have been really down times for me last year and this year but this was one of the highs,” Lin said.
Williams had 21 points and 11 assists for the Nets (8-17), who have dropped four of five.
In San Antonio, France’s Tony Parker erupted for 42 points as the Spurs knocked off the NBA-best Oklahoma City Thunder 107-96.
Parker also passed Avery Johnson as the franchise’s all-time assists leader with 4,477 as the Spurs improved to a league-best 13-1 at home before leaving on a nine-game road trip.
Meanwhile, Cleveland’s Australian-born point guard Kyrie Irving scored 20 points, including a layup with 15 seconds to go, as the Cavs defeated the defending champions Dallas 91-88.
Elsewhere, the Chicago Bulls routed the host Milwaukee Bucks, 113-90; the Utah Jazz surged past the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, 96-87; the Orlando Magic edged the host Indiana Pacers, 85-81; the visiting Los Angeles Clippers crushed the Washington Wizards, 107-81; and the Philadelphia 76ers notched a 98-87 road win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Also, the Minnesota Timberwolves got past the visiting Houston Rockets, 100-91; the host Portland Trail Blazers pounded the Denver Nuggets, 117-97; the host Detroit Pistons held off the New Orleans Hornets, 89-87; the Phoenix Suns trimmed the visiting Charlotte Bobcats, 95-89; and the host Sacramento Kings edged the Golden State Warriors in overtime, 114-106.
