December 18, 2012 11:01am
Fans of the New York Knicks were anguished when the team opted not to re-sign point guard Jeremy Lin during the offseason. Lin, in his return to Madison Square Garden, made sure to remind them why they wanted him back so badly.
The player that sparked Linsanity and carried the Knicks in the midst of a slump last season returned to the arena where he became an international sensation, producing 22 points and eight assists in a 109-96 win by his new team, the Houston Rockets, Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time).
The Rockets also became the first team to inflict a loss on the Knicks on their homecourt, snapping their undefeated streak of 10 games. New York fell to 18-5, while Houston evened their record at 12-12.
New York actually led 31-29 after the first quarter, but the Rockets exploded for 27 points in each of the middle two periods, while holding the Knicks to a total of just 29 markers. That put them up 83-60 with a quarter to play and the game well in hand.
A triple by Chandler Parsons made it a 27-point lead for the visitors, 94-67, with 9:10 left to play in the game. Lin and teammate James Harden then placed the finishing touches on the game by hitting on successive Houston possessions, before getting subbed out with two minutes and change remaining.
All-in-all, Houston hit 10-of-29 three-pointers in the rout, normally New York's strength.
Harden, whom the Rockets acquired just prior to the start of the season, added a double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Carlos Delfino came off the bench for 16.
New York was without Carmelo Anthony, who is still resting a sprained left ankle, as well as big man Rasheed Wallace, because of a sore left foot.
Unheralded rookie Chris Copeland, signed as a free agent in the offseason, started in place of Anthony and posted a game-high 29 points on 11-of-19 shooting. JR Smith added 17, while Tyson Chandler amassed eight markers and 18 boards. - AMD, GMA News
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