There may eventually be a less likely, less expected and more unusual story line in this most unusual Knicks season. But it will be difficult to beat a night when joyous chants of “Je-re-my!” filled Madison Square Garden.
Bill Kostroun/Associated Press
Jeremy Lin had a team-high 25 points, nearly doubling his previous career high of 13, and finished with 7 assists and 5 rebounds.
Jeremy Lin, whose N.B.A. résumé — undrafted from Harvard — is more well known than his game, emerged as the Knicks’ momentary savior Saturday night, producing a score line packed with career highs as he led his team to a stress-relieving 99-92 victory over the Nets.
Lin scored a team-high 25 points, nearly doubling his previous career high of 13, and added 7 assists and 5 rebounds, stabilizing a Knicks offense that badly needed a boost. He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and was at his best in the final minutes, repeatedly driving to the basket as the Knicks pulled away.
A rapturous crowd responded, chanting Lin’s first name and roaring at every basket. When the final buzzer sounded, the Garden’s public-address system serenaded Lin with the chorus from Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy.”
Lin emerged out of necessity, because of the Knicks’ continuing issues at point guard. His offensive outburst was well-timed, ending a two-game losing streak and giving the Knicks (9-15) their third victory in 14 games. The win also kept them just ahead of the rival Nets (8-17), who were uncomfortably on their heels.
Deron Williams had 21 points and 11 assists and Kris Humphries added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets.
It was another rough night for the Knicks’ marquee players. Carmelo Anthony made only 3 of 13 shots in the first three quarters, when Amar’e Stoudemire played only 13 minutes because of foul trouble. Anthony finished with 11 points and Stoudemire 17.
The scoring gap was filled by Tyson Chandler (17 points) and Lin, who combined for 27 points in the first three quarters, keeping the Knicks in the game.
Jared Jeffries assumed a greater role in Stoudemire’s absence and played perhaps his best game this season, finishing with 9 points and 10 rebounds.
Despite all of the losses — and the daily speculation about his job status — Coach Mike D’Antoni has been unwavering in his belief that a turnaround is in the making.
“I’m doing, and the players are doing, the best that they can do,” he said before the game, adding, “The chemistry is pretty good, and I’m pretty solid on what we’re doing. And I think we’re improving, we’re getting close. After that, it’s kind of up to the basketball gods.”
The basketball gods did not deliver Lin to the Knicks, although fate might have played a role. He was cut by the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets in December, each time because of salary-cap maneuvering. Both teams wanted to keep him. But the Knicks saw a need and a little potential and claimed Lin off waivers Dec. 27.
For the second straight game, Lin was the Knicks’ first guard off the bench. He entered the game to wild cheers — a reflection of the fans’ fascination with him as well as their growing discontent with Toney Douglas.
Lin did not disappoint. He played the final 15 minutes 35 seconds of the first half, collecting 6 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and a steal as the Knicks erased a 12-point deficit. They were plus 6 with him on the floor and went into halftime trailing by 48-46.
Lin ignited an early second-quarter rally with a series of big plays, swiping the ball from Jordan Farmar to start a fast break and feeding Douglas and Jeffries for baskets in an 8-1 surge. The Knicks tied the score at 46-46 late in the half on Lin’s alley-oop to Chandler.
D’Antoni has been searching for solutions at point guard since opening night. Douglas played himself out of the starting lineup, leaving the job to Iman Shumpert, a rookie whom D’Antoni has said is not ready for the role. Shumpert has shown steady improvement as a playmaker, however, collecting 19 assists over the three games before Saturday, when he had two.
Familiar problems — turnovers and poor shooting — put the Knicks in an early hole. They had nine turnovers in the first half, and Anthony missed 7 of 10 shots. They were behind by 12 points late in the first quarter, drawing the first boos of the night.
REBOUNDS
As the Knicks maintain their pursuit of J. R. Smith, Smith continues to tease fans with coy hints on Twitter. On Saturday, Smith referred to Carmelo Anthony — his former Denver Nuggets teammate — as “family” and referred to himself as a “loyal dude” while mentioning his New Jersey roots. Then again, in another posting, Smith wondered aloud what Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers thinks of him. The Lakers are also pursuing Smith, who is playing in China. He cannot return to the N.B.A. until his team’s season ends, which could be late February or March. Mike D’Antoni declined to comment on Smith, but he acknowledged the Knicks’ need for a 3-point shooter and said the front office was doing everything it could to strengthen the roster.“We know the areas that we need help,” he said. “We’re looking hard.” ... Mike Bibby, who opened the season as the backup point guard, did not play for the fourth straight game and appears to have fallen out of the rotation.
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