For the first time since leaving New York, Jeremy Lin displayed the type of game that popularized the term “Linsanity” on Monday against the visiting San Antonio Spurs.
With James Harden missing the game due to a sprained ankle, Lin took over and had – by far – his best game in a Rockets uniform. The point guard went off and filled the stat sheet with 38 points on 11-of-21 shooting, four-of-five from 3-point range, three rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks.
Although the effort came just short of a victory against the best team in the league – Houston lost the game in overtime 134-126 – the performance, at least for one night, showed that Lin’s ability to dominate a game, the way he did for the Knicks last season, is still in him when given the opportunity. He was dishing and swishing (as the great Walt Clyde Frazier would say) with ease and proved to be a huge threat on the offensive end when the ball went through him.
Frank Isola of New York Daily News, however, was less than impressed with what he saw. He made his point quite clear after seeing the reaction of anther writer about what it was like to witness Lin’s 38-point game against the Lakers last season: