Jeremy Lin Leads Knicks vs Kobe Bryant, Lakers: LIVE UPDATES, HIGHLIGHTS
Who has had more fun this week: Jeremy Lin or the rest of us?
On the one hand, it seems fairly obvious that the Knicks' point guard has enjoyed his breakout performances versus the Nets, Jazz and Wizards and that he has felt validated by all of the attention that he has been receiving after drawing scant interest as he finished his high school career in Palo Atlo and then his collegiate career at Harvard.
But, on the other hand, the rest of us have had Linsanity.. Lincredible.. Lindestructible.. The Linside Job.. All He Does Is Lin.. and so very many, many more tweets and headlines to enjoy and dream up.
Fulfilling one's lifelong ambition or having your Twitter timeline lighting up like the night sky on Lindependence Day?
I would have called this a draw. But then I saw the NMA TV animated account of Lin's rise. Certainly that video tilts the scales in favor of the rest of us. Seemingly everyone except for Kobe Bryant has been swept up by this Linspirational story.
On Friday, Kobe and the Lakers visit the Garden to put the Knicks' Linning streak to its sternest test. Will Lin be able to keep it up? Or will the Lakers expose this Knicks squad that will be playing without Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony?
FOLLOW HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE GAME. TWEET TO @HUFFPOSTSPORTS TO JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION:
The Knicks beat the Lakers and the first thing he says in his post-game interview is nice things about Jared Jeffries.
Aint' just a river in Egypt. The Knicks denied Kobe the ball on the inbounds it eventually got lost with Blake and Murphy. Tick tock bad miss. Fields gets the loose ball and is fouled.
| @ langwhitaker : Lin misses point-blank layup. Kobe drains three. Fields makes 1 of 2 FTs. TO, Lakers. Knicks up 91-85. 15.7 left. Lin w/ 38! |
And he misses the first and makes the second. 6-point game with 15.7 to play.
After Lin draws a charge to the delight of the crowd, Kobe gets high off the floor to shoot a deep three. And it's a 5-point game with less than 20 ticks.
He got the air space with a fake and felt compelled to take it. Lin has it on a string as we get under a minute.
The big man gets duped by Chandler and comes down heavy and hard for the foul. Everyone but the guys in purple want the flagrant. Mike Breen and Hubie concur. The refs do not. And Chandler misses the first free throw. Remember those ones that he made that were pulled?
Lakers are within six points after Pau puts it away in close. Knicks timeout. We're under two minute and it's anyone's game. And by anyone, I mean either Kobe Bryant or Jeremy Lin.
Despite all the jokes about the way ESPN promoted this game, we actually have a Lin vs. Kobe battle. Both players have 30+.
Lin drives and spins for what may have been the hoop of the night.. unless..
And gets a key defensive rebound. At the other end, Chandler keeps a possession alive by batting the ball back out.
In part this is because Bryant can make everything in the gym. But also because refs are whistling everything.
But it goes for naught after Shumpert and Lin get crossed up. Another needless turnover.
Another dagger with hand in his face, and then hitting his arm. Kobe has 29 and the lead is cut to 8. Just under 4 to play.
Should we start officially calling this "The Jeremy Lin Game" or should we presume this is the new normal?
DIdn't want the open three and took it into contact. Good! And One!
He's defending Pau like a guy who.. you know.. plays defense for a living rather than shooting spot up catch-and-shoot threes.
Kobe goes playground rules and chucks it off the backboard after he finds a dead end. He gets the ball back and finds Pau for an open look. Dropped In!
| @ ESPNGameDayJMac : Jeremy Lin with 29 points for the Knicks so far tonight. His career high at Harvard was 30, which he did twice. |
Lin drops in a jumper and the Knicks are up by 9 again. For those scoring from home, that's a 6-0 run since he checked back in.
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The Huffington Post Chris Greenberg First Posted: 02/10/2012 7:55 pm Updated: 02/11/2012 12:09 am