Jeremy Lin scored 17 points and added nine assists to spark the New York Knicks over Atlanta 99-82 Wednesday, improving the team to 9-2 since the Asian-American star emerged from a reserve role. The 23-year-old point guard whose parents are from Taiwan had been cut by two other NBA clubs, but was given a chance when the Knicks lost two starters and produced record scoring and assist figures to ignite a struggling club. Steve Novak added 17 points for the Knicks while Landry Fields added 16 and Carmelo Anthony contributed 15 points as the Knicks improved to 17-17 entering a Thursday matchup at Miami against the NBA co-leading Heat. With J.R. Smith just signed after spending the early part of the season in China and Anthony back from an injury, the Knicks have started to come together, with Lin adding punch with timely passing as well as scoring. “We have a lot of offensive weapons now,” Lin said. “I don't need to shoot as much with these guys coming back. We have J.R. and ‘Melo back. We're going to move the ball and make the defenses pay.” Clippers 103, Nuggets 95: Chris Paul poured salt into the wounds of the ailing Denver Nuggets with 36 points and nine assists to carry the Los Angeles Clippers to a much-needed home win Wednesday. With the Clippers looking to avoid a third straight defeat, Paul took the game by the scruff of the neck with 17 straight Clippers' points spanning the final two quarters of a tight contest. Los Angeles trailed 92-91 with about five minutes left, but Denver went ice cold at the Staples Center and were held without a point over a four-minute stretch where the Clippers (20-11) outscored them 8-0. Thunder 119, Celtics 104: Russell Westbrook scored 31 points and Kevin Durant added 28 points and nine rebounds to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder over the Boston Celtics. The Thunder matched the Miami Heat for the best record in the NBA at 26-7 and Oklahoma City's lead atop the Southwest division grew to eight games over Denver. Oklahoma City scored 72 first-half points, the most by any club in a game this season, and led by 23 points at half-time. Lakers 96, Mavericks 91: On a night when Kobe Bryant struggled with his shot, Andrew Bynum delivered for Los Angeles in a win at Dallas, collecting 19 points and 14 rebounds. Bryant made 4 of 15 shots and finished with 15 points. Pau Gasol had 24 points for the Lakers. Rockets 93, 76ers 87: Visiting Philadelphia was held without a 3-pointer for the first time this season, missing all nine attempts in losing its fifth straight. Luis Scola had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Houston. Nikola Vucevic scored a career-high 18 points for the Sixers. Timberwolves 100, Jazz 98: Luke Ridnour hit a floater in the lane at the buzzer, capping host Minnesota's comeback from 18 points down in the fourth quarter. J.J. Barea finished with 22 points for the Timberwolves. Bulls 110, Bucks 91: Carlos Boozer made 9 of 12 shots, finishing with 20 points as Chicago prevailed at home. Joakim Noah had 13 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the Bulls. In other games it was: Pacers 102, Bobcats 88; Sacramento 115, Washington 107; New Orleans 89, Cleveland 84; Toronto 103, Detroit 93; Orlando 108, New Jersey 91; Golden State 106, Phoenix 104.
