NEW YORK — Jeremy Lin won again at Madison Square Garden - and for the first time this season, the New York Knicks didn’t.
Lin had 22 points and eight assists in his return to NewYork, leading the Houston Rockets to a 109-96 victory Monday night that ended the Knicks’ 10-game home winning streak to open the season.
No longer the fan favorite he was when wearing the home uniform, Lin got a mixed reception when he left the game with 2:25 remaining and the Rockets leading by 16.
James Harden had 28 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who blew out the Knicks for the second time this season. They have won the past seven meetings, including a 131-103 rout in Houston on Nov. 23.
Rookie Chris Copeland scored a career-high 29 points for the Knicks, who played without leading scorer Carmelo Anthony and had their four-game winning streak snapped. They fell to 18-6, matching the record they finished last season with under Mike Woodson.
Woodson’s team decided not to match Houston’s contract offer to Lin, and nobody could argue when Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd and Pablo Prigioni led the Knicks to the best record in the Eastern Conference with a team that led the NBA in fewest turnovers.
But Lin was the best point guard on the floor, just as he so often was during his memorable run last winter, when he went from undrafted bench warmer to one of the biggest stories in basketball.
The Rockets outscored the Knicks 54-29 over the middle two quarters, denying New York its first 11-0 start at home since the 1991-92 season.
The Knicks trailed by just five midway through the third quarter before the Rockets blew it open with a 15-0 run, with Lin either scoring or assisting on five of their six baskets.
His layup opened the run, and he then passed to Marcus Morris for a layup and a three-pointer for a 67-55 Houston lead. Lin assisted on the second of Harden’s consecutive three-pointers, then had a steal and layup that gave Houston a 75-55 cushion.
In other NBA games on Monday, Serge Ibaka tied his career best with 25 points and grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs for their 11th consecutive victory, 107-93, in Oklahoma City. ... Mike Conley had 17 points, Zach Randolph added 10 points and 15 rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies overcame a poor start to beat the Chicago Bulls 80-71 in Memphis. ... Jamal Crawford scored 15 points and Chris Paul added 14 to lead the Los Angeles Clippers past the Detroit Pistons 88-76 in Auburn Hills, Mich., for their 10th consecutive victory. ... Glen Davis scored 28 points and J.J. Redick had 18 points and seven assists as the Orlando Magic beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 102-93 in Orlando, Fla. ... Shannon Brown scored 14 of his 22 points in the third quarter, Jared Dudley added 20 points and the Phoenix Suns beat the Sacramento Kings 101-90 in Phoenix.
Sports, Pages 21 on 12/18/2012