“Linsanity” reigned at Madison Square Garden for another night Friday as blossoming point guard Jeremy Lin outdueled Kobe Bryant to lead the New York Knicks to a fourth consecutive win with a 92-85 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Lin, an overlooked 23-year-old who had been cut by two other teams earlier this season, led New York with a career-high 38 points and seven assists, while rookie Iman Shumpert was the next highest scorer for the Knicks with 12 points. “Thirty-eight points. I was shocked,” New York coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters. “Because it came easily and within the context of team basketball. I was shocked to see how many points he had.” The Lakers, looking as though they were feeling the effects of back-to-back games after beating the Celtics in overtime in Boston Thursday, shot a poor 37.5 percent from the floor as they fell to 15-12. Bryant, who scored only 10 points in the first half, heated up after the intermission to pace the Lakers with 34 points. Spaniard Pau Gasol added 16 points for Los Angeles. Spurred on by the dazzling performance of Lin, the NBA's first Taiwanese-American player, the Knicks led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, 12 points in the third and 13 in the fourth at 86-73 before a late fight-back by the Lakers brought them within six at 88-82. Mavericks 104, Timberwolves 97: The NBA champion Dallas Mavericks welcomed Jason Kidd back from a six-game injury absence Friday with a 104-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry showed the form that took the Mavs to the NBA crown last season as they combined to score all 14 points in a 14-4 fourth-quarter scoring run that put Dallas firmly in control. Heat 106, Wizards 89: Dwyane Wade scored 26 points and dominated during a second-quarter run to lead the Miami Heat over the Washington Wizards 106-89. Wade either scored or got the assist on 20 consecutive Heat points, starting with a drive to the basket that began with a behind-the-back dribble at the free throw line followed by a 360-degree move in the paint and ending with a shot off the glass. Clippers 78, Sixers 77: Chris Paul hit a 17-foot jumper with 3.2 seconds left and finished with 24 points to lift Los Angeles over Philadelphia. Blake Griffin had 16 points and 11 rebounds, Mo Williams scored 14 points, Randy Foye had 10 and Reggie Evans chipped in with a season-high 10 rebounds for the Pacific Division-leading Clippers, who improved to 16-8. Elton Brand had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the 76ers, while Andre Iguodala contributed 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists one day after being selected to the All-Star team as a reserve for the first time in his eight-year career. Bulls 95, Bobcats 64: Joakim Noah had 17 points and 14 rebounds, Carlos Boozer scored 16 points and Chicago beat Charlotte despite the absence of reigning league MVP Derrick Rose. The Bulls won their fifth straight overall and improved to 5-1 this season without Rose, who sat out because of a lower back strain. In other games it was: Raptors 86, Celtics 74 ; Hawks 89, Magic 87; Grizzlies 98, Pacers 92; Bucks 113, Cavs 112, OT; Blazers 94, Hornets 86; Pistons 109, Nets 92; Oklahoma City 101, Utah 87.
