Guard Deron Williams and the New Jersey Nets did on the final leg of a back-to-back-to-back set, beating the Knicks 100-92 on Monday at Madison Square Garden.
Williams, perhaps still smarting from the Nets-Knicks game Feb. 4 in which Lin began his improbable run with 25 points and a victory, reminded the NBA there's another high-profile point guard in the New Yorkmetropolitan area.
An All-Star this season for the third time, Williams scored a season-high 38 points and made a career-high eight three-pointers, including three in a row in the third quarter — one a four-point play — when the Nets built a 78-59 lead.
"With all the 'Linsanity' we took it personal a little bit today and came out with the victory," Williams said.
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni credited Williams but also harped on his team.
"Our energy wasn't where it had to be. … We had to pick it up earlier and just couldn't do it," he said.
Poor shooting — 40% from the field and 23.8% on three-pointers — didn't help. Nets forward Kris Humphriesirritated the Knicks, goading Anthony and Knicks centerTyson Chandler into technical fouls.
Humphries also had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Nets rookie guard MarShon Brookes added 18 points.
For the 23-year-old Lin, it was another strong performance: 21 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, four steals and only three turnovers in 36 minutes before fouling out.
"He had a good game," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Deron had a great game."
Much of the focus centered Anthony's return to lineup. How would his skills mesh with Lin's? Anthony took umbrage at suggestions he wouldn't fit in.
Anthony, who missed seven-plus games with a strained right groin, was rusty but not a disruption, going 4-for-11 for 11 points, with six assists and six turnovers. If anything, he deferred too much.
"My mind-set was not try to come in and do too much. Try to fit in. Try to play my game within the system that they've been playing the last couple of week — passing the ball, finding the open man, making the right play," Anthony said.
There were glimpses of how Anthony can flourish as a scorer and passer, but the Knicks require an adjustment period with new faces in the rotation. He had consecutive assists to forward Amar'e Stoudemire in the first quarter, and Lin delivered a perfect pass to Anthony as he cut to the rim.
He also missed some shots he normally makes and had uncharacteristic turnovers.
"I want Jeremy to have the ball, hands down," Anthony said. "I want him to create for me. I want him to create for Amar'e. I want him to create for everybody and still be aggressive as he's been in the past two weeks."
Said Lin: "We both can make plays, and we need to find a good balance. It's a little tough right now with no practice time. … Obviously, we're not happy with how it went, but sometimes when you go through these type of times you become a better team.
"We're not in panic mode because it doesn't just work where people just show up and all of a sudden you have great chemistry. So we're going to have to work through some struggles. But as long as we're all committed and buying in, we'll be fine."
D'Antoni understands it requires time to incorporate the newcomers. Guard J.R. Smith just joined the team from China, Anthony is back from injury and point guard Baron Davisplayed for the first time this season after coming back from injuries.
D'Antoni also realizes time is the enemy as the 16-17 Knicks reached the halfway point of their season.
"We can't do this anymore. That's it," D'Antoni said. "We've got to start playing."
The Knicks are approaching a stretch where they have one game in nine days. In a compact season where practice time is in high demand but short supply, the Knicks will have much-needed time to practice and work on development.
"We get to the All-Star break (and) we get four, five practices to figure out the kind of team, the identity we have … and re-tool a little bit and see what we can do," D'Antoni said.
The Knicks' next chance to work everyone in comes Wednesday at home against theAtlanta Hawks, following by traveling to Miami to face the Heat on Thursday before the All-Star break.
"We've got to get some things sorted out," D'Antoni said.
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