LEAD: Little-used Jeremy Lin sparks slumping Knicks to win over Nets

By Chris Bernucca Feb 5, 2012, 6:09 GMT

Los Angeles - With their season teetering on the brink, the New York Knicks turned to a kid from Harvard who looked more like an engineer than an NBA star.

Little-used Jeremy Lin had career highs of 25 points and seven assists as the host Knicks rallied for a much-needed 99-92 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Saturday night.

It was an unimaginable performance from Lin, who received no college scholarship offers and was cut by Golden State and Houston prior to this season. The Knicks signed him only to fill their roster.

'I think New Jersey didn't have a scouting report on him,' Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire said.

'It just hasn't really sunk in yet,' said Lin, a 6-3 point guard and the first NBA player of Taiwanese descent.

Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler scored 17 points each for the Knicks (9-15), who were playing for the third time in three nights. They had lost five of six, leading to speculation about coach Mike D'Antoni's job security.

Asked about playing Lin for 36 minutes in a pivotal game, D'Antoni joked, 'I'm panicking.'

After excruciating losses to Chicago and Boston the last two nights, the Knicks fell behind by 12 points late in the first quarter and were booed by the home crowd. Lin scored six points in the second quarter to help cut the deficit to 48-46 at halftime.

'I just try to put pressure on the defense and then take whatever they give us,' he said.

Lin returned midway through the third quarter and never sat down again. He executed the pick-and-roll, a big part of D'Antoni's offense that has been a problem this season.

'He's got a point guard mentality,' D'Antoni said. 'He has a rhyme or reason to what he's doing and you can play off that.'

Matched up against Nets star Deron Williams, Lin had two three-point plays late in the third period, then sank two jumpers early in the fourth quarter to give the Knicks an 80-77 lead.

Lin had another three-point play and layup to extend the margin to 97-86 with 1:36 left. At the buzzer, he was mobbed by his teammates.

'There have been really down times for me last year and this year but this was one of the highs,' Lin said.

Williams had 21 points and 11 assists for the Nets (8-17), who have dropped four of five.

San Antonio 107, Oklahoma City 96 =

France's Tony Parker erupted for 42 points and passed Avery Johnson as the franchise's all-time assists leader with 4,477 as the Spurs improved to a league-best 13-1 at home before leaving on a nine-game road trip.

Chicago 113, Milwaukee 90 =

Britain's Luol Deng returned from a seven-game absence with a wrist injury to score 21 points for the Bulls, who are 3-2 on their nine-game trip.

Cleveland 91, Dallas 88 =

Rookie Kyrie Irving scored 20 points, including a driving layup with 15 seconds left, as the host Cavaliers edged the defending champions, who have lost three in a row.

Utah 96, LA Lakers 87 =

Al Jefferson had 18 points and 13 rebounds as the Jazz overcame 24 points and 16 boards by Spain's Pau Gasol and the Lakers, who fell to 3-8 on the road.

Portland 117, Denver 97=

France's Nicolas Batum had career highs of nine three-pointers and 33 points as the Trail Blazers won their fifth straight home game.

Orlando 85, Indiana 81 =

Dwight Howard scored 27 points as the Magic held on to win in Indiana for the second time in 11 days. The Pacers had a four-game winning streak snapped.

LA Clippers 107, Washington 81 =

Blake Griffin had 21 points, 11 boards and eight assists as the Clippers began a six-game trip by waxing the Wizards, who have dropped four straight.

Philadelphia 98, Atlanta 87 =

Montenegro rookie Nikola Vucevic scored 15 of the 54 bench points by the visiting 76ers, who have won five of six.

Minnesota 100, Houston 91 =

Kevin Love had 25 points and 18 rebounds as the host Timberwolves (12-12) reached the .500 mark.

Detroit 89, New Orleans 87 =

Greg Monroe totaled 24 points and 16 boards for the host Pistons, who handed the Hornets their fifth consecutive loss.

Phoenix 95, Charlotte 89 =

Poland's Marcin Gortat had 12 points and 12 boards for the Suns, who dealt the visiting Bobcats their 11th straight setback.

Sacramento 114, Golden State 106 (OT) =

Tyreke Evans scored five of his 26 points in overtime as the host Kings avenged a loss at Golden State four days ago.