Every morning, we will give you five things from the night before in the NBA to start your day.
1: Lin returns
It was not so long ago that Jeremy Lin was winning the hearts of the nation and New York with his exuberant play and underdog story. It helped him get his contract with Houston this offseason.
The fairy tale has certainly ended as Lin's play has crashed back to earth and his play with the Rockets has left a lot wanting. Lin has not been at his best. And a return to Madison Square Garden could be the medicine he needed.
Lin loves the Garden. And when he entered the game the Garden loved Lin back.
Jeremy Lin put in his best performance as a Rocket, or perhaps his highest profile one, against his former team in the arena he rocked for so long. Lin scored 22 points and dished out eight assists in leading the Rockets to a 109-96 win over the Eastern Conference-leading Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The crowd welcomed Lin warmly although they might have been more frustrated that his team took the win.
For New York, the fans may have found their new folk hero. Chris Copeland scored 29 points on 11-for-19 shooting, stepping in for Carmelo Anthony in the starting lineup.
Copeland-sanity anyone?
2: Clippers win 10
Beating the Pistons is not a whole lot to write home about unfortunately. The Clippers did that 88-76 on Monday in Auburn Hills, Mich.
What did happen in this game was Los Angeles won its 10th consecutive game, the first time the Clippers have done that since moving to California and only one game shy of tying the franchise mark set by the Buffalo Braves in November 1974.
A win streak like this makes you want to take this Clippers team all the more seriously.
This game was different than how you typically think a Chris Paul and Blake Griffin-led team would win. This was a grind it out game that required defense and execution to ensure a victory. This might be who the Clippers are becoming.
Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford each had 15 points to lead the Clippers in a balanced scoring effort. Chris Paul had 14 points and seven assists. The Pistons shot just 40.8 percent from the floor and committed 17 turnovers. That was enough fro the Clippers to keep their stranglehold on this win streak and on the Pacific Division.
3: HIGHLIGHTS!!!
Conley with a swirling scoop
Kevin Durant makes up for the turnover
Jimmer frees himself
4: Line of the Night: Glen Davis — 28 points, 13/17 FGs
Glen Davis was a bit animated after the Magic's 102-93 victory over the Timberwolves on Monday. And with good reason. Davis scored 20 second-half points, including 12 in the third quarter and even leaked out for a few fast break finishes and a few dunks too. It was an other-worldly performance from Davis that was both surprisingly efficient and entirely necessary for the Magic to get their third straight win.
5: You can quote me on that
I think that's the most wins I've ever had in a row since I've been in the league. It's pretty cool, obviously. The locker room is a lot funnier. Your food taste better. You sleep a little bit better. It's nice to win, especially when you do it in a row.
–Clippers guard Chris Paul on the 10-game win streak
It was a battle. It was hard fought. They're a grind-it team.
–Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph on the Derrick Rose-less Bulls
