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Lin scores 38, Knicks down Lakers

Feb 11, 2012 - 7:45 AM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Jeremy Lin's coming out party continued on Friday as he dropped in a career-high 38 points with seven assists and four rebounds, and the New York Knicks downed the Los Angeles Lakers, 92-85, at Madison Square Garden.

"The only thing we established tonight was getting four in a row," said Lin about his recent success. "I'm not really too worried right now about proving anything to anybody. I think as a team we're just growing and we're trying to build on this momentum. I think that's what everyone is buying into right now and that's why we're becoming more dangerous."

Iman Shumpert added 12 points and Jared Jeffries scored 11 for the Knicks, who defeated the Lakers for the first time since January 30, 2007, ending a nine- game losing streak to Los Angeles.

Kobe Bryant scored 34 points and pulled down 10 boards for the Lakers, but it was not enough for LA to avoid its third loss in four games.

After a pair of Bryant free throws marked the first points of the game a little over two minutes into the contest, Lin had 10 points and three assists in a 19-6 run by the Knicks that included a span of six-plus minutes without Los Angeles making a shot from the floor.

"You have got to give [Lin] credit. He played a terrific ball game and he was the difference in the ball game," Lakers head coach Mike Brown said. "I don't ever remember anybody getting to the rim for that many layups against us."

The Lakers, though, closed out the first with a 7-3 spurt to close the gap to 22-15.

Los Angeles went just 8-for-27 from the floor and had eight turnovers in the first, while the Knicks shot 15-for-32 and gave the ball away just twice.

New York opened the second quarter with seven straight points to take a 14- point lead, 29-15.

But after trading buckets over the next three minutes, the Lakers reeled off a 10-3 spurt to get within eight and trailed, 49-41, at the half.

The Knicks held at least a six-point lead over the first half of the third quarter before an 8-2 swing by Los Angeles brought them within 58-54 with 3 1/2 minutes to play in the third.

However, New York recorded 16 of the next 24 points and entered the final stanza with a 66-60 lead.

The Knicks controlled most of the fourth quarter and looked like they would cruise to the easy victory when they took an 86-73 lead on Shumpert's layup with less than five minutes left in the game.

But a late push by the Lakers closed the gap to 90-85 with 15.7 seconds left in the game after Bryant sank a three-pointer from right wing.

Fields was quickly fouled and made 1-of-2 free throws on the other end to keep it a two-possession game before Steve Blake missed an open three at the top of the key and Fields grabbed the rebound to seal the win.

Game Notes

The Knicks were playing their third straight game without stars Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. Anthony is out until at least next week with a strained groin, while Stoudemire is also expected back next week after traveling to Florida to deal with the death of his brother...New York recorded 15 points off 17 LA turnovers...The Lakers scored 14 points off 14 New York giveaways...The Lakers outrebounded New York, 48-41.