Knicks 99, Nets 92
Jeremy Lin erupted for a career-best 25 points in a reserve role as the New York Knicks prevailed 99-92 over the visiting New Jersey Nets on Saturday night.
Lin took advantage of a major bump in playing time, shooting 10 for 19 while adding seven assists and five rebounds in 34 minutes. His performance led the Knicks to just their third win in the last 14 games.
Deron Williams had 21 points and 11 assists while Kris Humphries added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who suffered a fourth-quarter collapse after leading for most of the game.
The teams exchanged the lead several times in the third quarter until the Nets pulled away, with a Humphries 10-footer keying an 8-0 run that put the Nets ahead 66-59. New York mounted a late surge, capped by a Lin three-point play, but still trailed 72-70 entering the fourth quarter.
The Knicks took the lead a handful of times in the final frame, but it wasn't until Amar'e Stoudemire knocked down a layup midway through the quarter that New York was able to put some space between itself and the Nets. That shot kickstarted a 9-2 run capped by a Tyson Chandler layup and foul shot that gave the Knicks an insurmountable 91-84 edge.
The Nets led by 10 after a wide-open first quarter, only to see the Knicks whittle away at the deficit over the next 12 minutes. A pair of Chandler shots drew New York even with 1:31 remaining , but Jordan Williams countered with a short jumper on New Jersey's final possession of the half to put the Nets up 48-46 at the break.