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Unlikely heroes Jeremy Lin, J.R. Smith and Steve Novak helped the Knicks keep the world champs at bay.
What's with all these forgotten role players stepping up to shine at Madison Square Garden? With the Mavericks threatening to take over in the fourth quarter, Steve Novak took control of the game with a trio of three-pointers to send the MSG crowd into a fury. The best part? His swagtastic celebration, putting on the championship belt after he nailed his last one. Enjoy after the jump:
The Knicks started the third quarter sloppy, but finished strong, ending the period on a 7-0 run which cut the deficit to 75-72 against the Mavericks.
Jeremy Lin continued to lead the Knicks, scoring 10 points in the quarter on just seven shots, but he also turned the ball over three times and missed a pair of free throws. Still, the Knicks will continue to live with Lin's turnover because of everything else he brings. Check out this play to steal back the momentum at the end of the quarter:
Meanwhile, Dirk Nowitzki proved once again to be a one-man comeback. The Mavericks forward exploded for 13 points in the third quarter, making all four of his shot attempts. He even converted a four-point play. Check the video:
At this point it's old hat for Dirk. On Friday, Nowitzki tied the Sixers 24-24 in the second half alone (!!!) leading the Mavericks to a comeback road win in Philadelphia.
Keep up with this game on our Mavericks vs. Knicks StoryStream and get more great fan perspective on our Knicks blog, Posting and Toasting and our Mavericks blog, Mavs Moneyball.
The Knicks lead the Mavericks by a score of 48-45 at halftime on Sunday. Jeremy Lin leads New York with 12 points and six assists and J.R. Smith has come out gunning in his Knicks debut. At the other end of the floor, New York has had no answer for Dirk Nowitzki, who has 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting.
But this Mavs-Knicks matchup is less a basketball game than a three-hour opportunity for America to talk about Jeremy Lin. It's really the perfect end to a week that has been all about #Linsanity. Fortunately, the biggest story in sports has continued to do what's he's continued to do: play good, fun basketball.
Here are Lin's first half highlights:
• Jeremy Lin's first seven starts vs. other notable point guards
• Jeremy Lin hitting Jeremy Lin floater over NBA champion Dirk Nowitzki
• Jeremy Lin is a jump ball specialist because of course why not
• Jeremy Lin can now shoot from wherever he wants (also know as "The Melo Rule")
• Swagging out with "In Jesus Name I Play" wristband.
• Oh, and his stat line: 12 points, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block.
Keep up with this game on our Mavericks vs. Knicks StoryStream and get more great fan perspective on our Knicks blog, Posting and Toasting and our Mavericks blog, Mavs Moneyball.
J.R. Smith hasn't even practiced with the Knicks yet -- head coach Mike D'Antoni joked Saturday that he'd need to introduce himself to his newest player before Sunday's game -- but that hasn't stopped him from coming out gunning in his first NBA action since returning from a stint in China.
Coming off the bench in the first quarter against the Mavericks, Smith jacked up five three-pointers in less than six minutes, draining three:
It was a bit surprising to see, but should it have been? Smith has long been one of the most fearless gunners in the league, and even though he's playing his first NBA game of the year, it's not like he gathered any rust playing overseas. Combined with the emergence of Jeremy Lin, the sudden availability of Baron Davis and the imminent return of Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks suddenly have a lot of tools at their disposal as they attempt to climb from their current No. 8 spot in the East.
Smith's outburst helped the Knicks build a 32-20 lead over the Mavericks. With a couple of minutes left in the first half, that lead has dwindled to 46-40.
For updates and info on the Knicks, make sure you visit Poasting and Toasting and SB Nation New York.
You might have heard that Jeremy Lin is the Mr. Christian Religion Tim Tebow of the NBA. Well, it's time to give up rational arguments to the contrary because thanks to USA Today we now know Lin sports a wristband that reads "In Jesus Name I Play."
The national spotlight will once again focus on Madison Square Garden on Sunday afternoon when the Dallas Mavericks visit New York to take on Jeremy Lin, the New York Knicks, and Linsanity. Lin might have some help, however, as Baron Davis might take the floor for the first time this season. Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith, however, appear as though they will be sitting this one out again.
Davis has been out all year recovering from a back injury and being generally out of shape, but he's been inching toward a return since the lockout ended. He participated in 3-on-3 drills in Saturday practice, according to the Associated Press. After healing from a herniated disc and an infected elbow, he is medically cleared to help spell Jeremy Lin and give the Knicks an option without having a serious dropoff on the floor.
J.R. Smith was just signed this week after spending the beginning of the season in China. Because he was playing professional basketball, he should be in game shape, and the Knicks have cleared him to play, but ESPN's Heather Cox reports that he won't be playing in this one.
Finally, Carmelo Anthony is still recovering from the pulled groin he suffered against the Utah Jazz two weeks ago. He's been coming closer to returning to game action and quelling the doubts about whether he can play with Lin, but it doesn't look like that will happen Sunday.
For updates and info on the Knicks, make sure you visit Posting and Toasting and SB Nation New York.
Now that football's all finished up, Sunday afternoons are reserved for marquee NBA matchups, and right now, no one lights up a marquee like Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks. The Knicks will host the reigning NBA champion Dallas Mavericks in front of what's sure to be an unbelievable Madison Square Garden crowd.
Though the Knicks lost their first game of the Jeremy Lin Era Friday night — to the lowly New Orleans Hornets, of all people — their record is still 7-1 in games in which he's played major minutes, and they're 15-16 on the year, good enough for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference if the season ended today. Lin has played one game for the Knicks against a high-profile team in front of a national audience, and in that one, he scored 38 points and beat the Los Angeles Lakers.
On the other bench, the Mavericks would like nothing more than to quash the Linsanity on a national stage in an embarassing way. They've won six straight games and seem to be regaining that championship form. Chances are Jason Kidd will start out defensively on Lin, but don't be surprise if head coach Rick Carlisle switches Delonte West onto him if Lin starts getting to the basket at will. This should be a fun one.
Game Date/Time: Sunday, Feb. 19, 1 p.m. ET
TV: ABC (National)
For more info on these two teams, visit Knicks blog Poasting and Toasting and Mavericks blog Mavs Moneyball.
That the New York Knicks' winning streak came to a halt against just about the worst team the Knicks had played in the Jeremy Lin era -- the New Orleans Hornets -- is a stark reminder that for all of the club's new energy, it's still slotted well below the conference's two elite squads. In other words, the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat aren't losing to the Hornets. (Please ignore the Bulls' loss to the New Jersey Nets on Saturday; it belies the point we're trying to make.) The Hornets are a smart, energetic defensive team, and a turnover machine like Lin is like a feast for those defenders.
The unfortunate thing for New York is that the very best teams are like that, too. The Philadelphia 76ers will confused a young point guard with defensive schemes, the Bulls are legendary in their resistance and the Heat have the most athletic wing defense this side of ... well, of Philadelphia. The Dallas Mavericks, New York's foe on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, ABC) can cause these problems as well. The Mavericks are No. 7 in the league in turnover creation, taking the ball away on 15 percent of opponent possessions.
Any Mavericks steals tend to come from Jason Kidd or Delonte West, but the latter is out with a busted ring finger. Kidd will likely draw primary coverage of Lin, the pick-and-roll wizard who has captured the world's attention, though Rodrigue Beaubois, a lightning fast Frenchman, could be an early option. Kidd will likely try to be physical with Lin, getting up into the point guard and forcing him to drive into the teeth of the Dallas defense, which ... well, it has Brendan Haywood!
Lin will share attention with former Mav Tyson Chandler, who left Dallas after the team's championship last season to sign with the Knicks, and three potential additions to New York's rotation: Carmelo Anthony (back from injury), Baron Davis and J.R. Smith. Davis hasn't played this season due to a back injury, an elbow injury and who knows what else. Smith signed with the club this week after his Chinese team's season ended.
But in the end, all eyes will be on Lin. After faltering on Friday, he faces a tougher task with a bigger spotlight -- that of national TV. Let's see how he responds.
For more on the Knicks, visit Posting And Toasting. For more on the Mavericks, visit Mavs Moneyball.
Mavs Vs. Knicks: Jeremy Lin, New York Get Big Win, 104-97
The Knicks are fun to watch again. Jeremy Lin helped New York overcome a third-quarter dip to beat the Mavericks 104-97 on Sunday afternoon. Steve Novak and Lin combined for six three-pointers in the fourth quarter to propel the Knicks to victory.
Once again, Lin was a terror -- scoring 28 points to go with 14 assists. And this time he did it against one of the top defenses in the NBA. Only three teams are more efficient defensively than the Mavericks, who allow opponents less than 96 points per 100 possessions.
Six other Knicks finished in double figures, including J.R. Smith, who has not practiced with the team since signing on Friday. New York has now won eight of its last nine games and sits at .500 with a 16-16 record.
Dirk Nowitzki caught fire in the third quarter and looked like he would will the Mavs to a win, but his 34 points (including 4-5 from three) weren't enough.
Steve Novak and Jeremy Lin pushed the Knicks ahead in the fourth quarter with a barrage of three-pointers -- and some awesome championship belt moves that clearly inspired the entire team.
Keep up with this game on our Mavericks vs. Knicks StoryStream and get more great fan perspective on our Knicks blog, Posting and Toasting and our Mavericks blog, Mavs Moneyball.
Feb 19 3:53p by Michael Katz - 0 comments