JOIN USJeremy Lin showed off another dimension on his magical NBA ride in leading the Knicks to a 100-85 rout of the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday for New York’s seventh win in a row.
Lin, who has risen from obscurity to a dynamic force at point guard over the last 10 days, scored just 10 points after posting at least 20 in each of the first six games of the winning streak but the playmaker’s passing stole the show.
The Taiwanese-American doled out 13 assists, including half a dozen alley-oop passes that led to thunderous dunks and easy layups to the delight of a roaring Madison Square Garden crowd. “As a point guard, my field goal attempts have been really high,” Lin said of his previous high-scoring performances. “I don’t think that’s necessarily good.
“It’s more of my job to distribute and get people in rhythm, especially when Melo (Carmelo Anthony) comes back, another lethal scorer.”
Lin’s distribution promoted a balanced attack that saw Landry Fields lead on 15 points, with Bill Walker and Steve Novak adding 14 points apiece as the Knicks reached the .500 mark with a 15-15 record.
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni was thrilled with Lin’s performance and the way the team were playing together.
Results: Orlando: 103 bt Philadelphia: 87; San Antonio: 113 bt Toronto: 106; Memphis: 105 bt New Jersey: 100; Cleveland: 98 bt Indiana: 87; NY Knicks: 100 bt Sacramento: 85; Detroit: 98 bt Boston: 88; Houston: 96 bt Oklahoma City: 95; New Orleans: 92 bt Milwaukee: 89; Minnesota: 102 bt Charlotte: 90; Dallas: 102 bt Denver: 84; Atlanta: 101 bt Phoenix: 99; Portland: 93 bt Golden State: 91; LA Clippers: 102 bt Washington: 84.