Linning Streak: Knicks Down Wolves For Fifth Straight, 100-98

Jeremy Lin's Stats Vs. Timberwolves Aren't Eye-Popping, But Not Bad For An Off Night

On Saturday night, Jeremy Lin made not only his fifth career start, but his fifth start in seven days. Just one night after putting up 38 points in a showcase victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Garden, Lin and his New York Knicks teammates had to play an away game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

While Lin was not at his best, he led his team in minutes with 39 and hit a game-clinching free throw to give the Knicks a 100-98 victory. He was solid in the first half, putting up 15 points, but he appeared to tire in the second half. Lin finished with 20 points on the night on a below average 8-24 shooting. He was 0-3 from behind the arc.

Lin did well to provide for his teammates once again with eight assists, but also turned the ball over six times. The T'Wolves did a good job in the second half of stopping him from driving to his right and forcing him to his left, where he isn't nearly as strong. Both teams looked absolutely gassed in the fourth quarter, so Lin's struggles were understandable; the Timberwolves scored just 11 points in the fourth.

While his line of 20 points, eight assists, six rebounds, three steals and six turnovers isn't exactly world-beating stuff, it's not bad for a young point guard making his fifth career start, and fifth start in seven days. In those five starts and seven days, he's played 195 minutes, and it's understandable that he was gassed for the last 15-20 of those.

If this is Lin coming back to earth and playing at the level we can expect to see him play at for the foreseeable future, he's still a solid NBA point guard who is exceeding expectations. However, based on his body language late in the game, it appeared that his play was more the product of fatigue and an off night than him getting found out.

For more on Jeremy Lin and the Knicks, head over to New York Knicks blog Posting and Toasting, as well as SB Nation New York.

Knicks Vs. Timberwolves Final Score: New York Rallies For 100-98 Victory, Jeremy Lin Hits Game-Winning Free Throw

Jeremy Lin had the worst of his five games as the New York Knicks' go-to point guard on Saturday night in Minnesota. And yet he still got the Knicks a 100-98 victory over the Timberwolves, with the game-winning free throw with mere seconds left.

Lin's free throw with 4.9 seconds left gave the Knicks a 99-98 lead, their first since the second quarter, as a 12-4 run to close the game by the Knicks gave New York a theft of a win on the road. Lin had 20 points, reaching the 20-point plateau for the fifth time in the Knicks' five-game winning streak, but needed 24 shots to get them, and had six turnovers to go with his eight assists.

Credit Ricky Rubio for a lot of that: the long-limbed rookie made Lin's life more difficult on the offensive end, and collected three steals and a block. But despite Rubio's 12 points and eight assists, he also made the most critical mistake for the Wolves, dribbling the ball off his foot on the possession immediately after Lin's free throw.

Bill Walker added a final free throw for the two-point margin of victory for the Knicks. Iman Shumpert contributed 20 points off the bench for New York before fouling out, and Steve Novak had 15 points and four threes.

Minnesota's loss came despite excellent nights from Kevin Love (32 points, 21 rebounds) and Nikola Pekovic (21 points, 13 rebounds).

Lin and the Knicks will go for their sixth straight win on Tuesday against the Raptors. Forward Amar'e Stoudemire is expected back for that game.

To talk about Lin and the Knicks, head on over to Posting and Toasting. To learn more about Love, Rubio and the Wolves, check out Canis Hoopus.

VIDEO: Jeremy Lin Plus Black-And-White Is Awesome

Knicks Vs. Timberwolves Score Update: Nikola Pekovic Upstaging Jeremy Lin-Ricky Rubio Duel

The Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks are locked in a battle in Minnesota on Saturday night, and so are point guards Ricky Rubio and Jeremy Lin. But Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Love are buoying the Wolves, too, and have them up 87-82 on the Knicks heading into the fourth quarter.

More coverage from SI.com: Live box score

Love has cooled somewhat since a red-hot first quarter, but still leads all scorers with 28 points and has added 16 rebounds. Pekovic, though, is having a fantastic night and only getting better as the game wears on, posting 21 points and 13 rebounds so far.

Rubio and Lin are playing an entertaining back-and-forth battle at the point: Rubio has just 10 points, but has also had eight assists and three steals, and has played good defense on Lin, whose 17 points have come with five assists and five turnovers.

To talk about Lin and the Knicks, head on over to Posting and Toasting. To learn more about Love, Rubio and the Wolves, check out Canis Hoopus.

Knicks Vs. Timberwolves Halftime Score: Jeremy Lin Starring, But New York Trails

Jeremy Lin's having another great night for the New York Knicks against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. But the rising star may need more than that to beat Ricky Rubio and the T'Wolves, who closed the first half strong to take a 62-54 lead into halftime.

More coverage from SI.com: Live box score

Rubio, who has eight points, five assists, two steals, and no turnovers, darted through the Knicks defense for a lay-up to extend Minnesota's lead to eight points. And he's gotten a lot of help from Kevin Love, who already has 20 points and 11 rebounds and is well on his way to a monster night.

Lin has 15 points, and will probably easily clear 20 points for the fifth straight game, and also has four assists, two rebounds, and two steals. But his teammates are struggling to get into rhythm, with Landry Fields, Tyson Chandler, Iman Shumpert, and Jared Jeffries all getting two fouls in the first half.

To talk about Lin and the Knicks, head on over to Posting and Toasting. To learn more about Love, Rubio and the Wolves, check out Canis Hoopus.

Knicks Vs. Timberwolves Score Update: Kevin Love Stars, Minnesota Leads After First Quarter

Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin has been the talk of the NBA over the past week, with four straight 20-point performances capped by a virtuoso 38-point outing against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. But on Saturday in Minnesota, he's run into two other phenomena from this season, Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio, and his Knicks trail the Timberwolves, 33-30, after one quarter.

More coverage from SI.com: Live box score

Love came out of the gate hot for Minnesota, scoring 15 points and seven rebounds against a New York front line that is still missing Amar'e Stoudemire, who is dealing with the aftermath of his brother's death, and lost Tyson Chandler to early foul trouble. And Rubio had an excellent first period, too, with four points and four assists and no turnovers before accruing two fouls.

Lin was brilliant, leading the Knicks in scoring with nine points and dishing out three assists. But he may have to do more if New York is to earn its fifth straight win.

To talk about Lin and the Knicks, head on over to Posting and Toasting. To learn more about Love, Rubio and the Wolves, check out Canis Hoopus.

Knicks Vs. Timberwolves: Game Time, TV Information And More

It's Linsanity vs. Love when the Knicks take on the T'Wolves tonight.

Jeremy Lin Vs. Ricky Rubio: The NBA's Puppy Bowl