(Sports Network) - Sudden New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin was brought back to
reality when New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams took him to school in
a recent contest at Madison Square Garden.
Arguably one of the fanciest point guards in the NBA, Williams racked up 38
points in New Jersey's 100-92 victory in New York on Monday, leaving the
Knicks with two losses in their last three games following an inspirational
seven-game winning streak. Lin and the Knicks look to bounce back tonight
versus the Atlanta Hawks in the finale of a five-game homestand.
Lin led the way with 21 points and Amare Stoudemire scored 17 for New York,
which welcomed the return of injured forward Carmelo Anthony. Anthony had
missed seven straight games with a groin injury and posted 11 points and six
assists in 37 minutes. Landry Fields had 10 and 11 rebounds in defeat.
"I think any time you have three new players, people coming back your identity
as a team is going to change with the personnel," said Lin, who fouled out for
the first time in his career. "We are not in panic mode because it is not like
people show up and you have great chemistry. We have to work through some
struggles but as long as we are all committed we will be fine."
Lin is averaging 24.6 points as a starter (9 starts) and has scored 20-plus
points nine times this season. Meanwhile, Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert sat out
with a left knee injury and will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break. He
is expected to compete in the dunk contest Saturday night and is listed as
questionable for this evening.
New York is 2-2 on the residency and owns a 9-9 record in the Big Apple this
season. After hosting Atlanta in the finale of the homestand, the Knicks will
play five of six on the road, including Thursday's matchup in Miami.
February hasn't been too kind for the Hawks, as they sport a 3-7 mark through
10 games this month. The Hawks will close out a five-game road trip tonight
against the Knicks and dropped to 1-3 on the swing following a 90-79 loss at
Chicago on Monday night.
The Bulls welcomed back reigning MVP Derrick Rose and the All-Star guard
posted 23 points in over 34 minutes of action. Rose had been out for quite
some time with a lower back issue. Jannero Pargo had a season-high 19 points
off the bench and Josh Smith added 17 and 12 rebounds for Atlanta, which got
12 points from Joe Johnson.
Johnson, however, is expected to miss a week of action because of left knee
tendinitis. Johnson, the team's leading scorer at 17.6 points per game, left
Monday's game after just 21 minutes because of the problem.
Atlanta expects to have forward Marvin Williams back for Wednesday's game
after he missed the 90-79 loss to the Bulls to attend the funeral of a family
member. He is averaging 9.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 28 games this season.
The Hawks, who are 10-8 as the guest, will return to Georgia for a four-game
homestand versus the Magic, Warriors, Bucks and Thunder after visiting the
Knicks. New York and Atlanta split four meetings a year ago and the Knicks
have won seven of the past 10 matchups between the teams.
Atlanta has lost seven of 11 and 17 of its last 22 at New York.
The Sports Network