Williams outshines Lin, Nets knock off Knicks

Feb 22, 2012, 6:02 GMT

Los Angeles - Deron Williams fired in a career-best eight threes en route to a season-high 38 points, to outshine Jeremy Lin Monday night and the visiting New Jersey Nets beat the New York Knicks 100-92.

Lin began his Lincredible run with 25 points off the bench against Williams and the Nets in a 99-92 victory on February 4 and Linsanity was born.

Since that time, the NBA's first American Taiwanese player has averaged 25 points and 9.2 assists, sparking the rejuvenated Knicks to eight wins in 10 games.

However, Williams got the better of Lin in the rematch.

Lin led the Knicks with 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Knicks, who received 11 points from All-Star Carmelo Anthony in his return after missing seven games with a groin strain.

Frenchman Tony Parker scored 23 points and Richard Jefferson's three-pointer with 6.5 seconds left, sending the visiting San Antonio Spurs to their NBA-season-high 11th consecutive after trimming the Utah Jazz, 106-102.

League most valuable player Derrick Rose had 23 points, six assists and five rebounds in his first game back after sitting out the last five with a sore back, leading the Chicago Bulls past the visiting Atlanta Hawks, 90-79.

Oklahoma City Thunder 101, New Orleans Hornets 93: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook scored 31 points apiece, and the Thunder rolled to its 10th consecutive home victory, beating the New Orleans Hornets, 101-93.

German wunderkind Dirk Nowitzki had 26 points to move into the top 20 NBA career scoring list along with a season-high 16 rebounds and the Dallas Mavericks rolled to their seventh win in the last eight games, 89-73 over the visiting Boston Celtics, who played without suspended starters Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett.

Elsewhere: the Houston Rockets edged the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 97-93; the visiting Orlando Magic slipped past the Milwaukee Bucks 93-90; the Denver Nuggets trimmed the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 103-101 in overtime.

Also, the Golden State Warriors surprised the visiting LA Clippers 104-97; the LA Lakers dropped the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 103-92 and the Phoenix Suns whipped the visiting Washington Wizards 104-88