Lin Says Returns of Shumpert, Melo, Amar’e Will Help Knicks

NEW YORK — After the latest chapter of Linsanity hit Madison Square Garden, a jubilant Jeremy Lin hugged his former teammates and friends, Steve Novak and Tyson Chandler.

He was pleased with the Rockets’ 109-96 victory over the Knicks that snapped New York’s perfect 10-0 record at home, but he was hardly gloating afterward.

Lin knows the Knicks personnel as well as anyone and he understands that without Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert, they are nowhere near full strength.

Melo Remains Out; Amar’e Cleared to Practice

NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony remains out for tonight’s game against Jeremy Lin and the Houston Rockets, but could return Wednesday against Brooklyn at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks other superstar, Amar’e Stoudemire, has been cleared to practice and will do so with the Knicks’ D-League team, the Erie BayHawks, on Tuesday and Thursday. Stoudemire could potentially make his season debut Friday against Chicago or Sunday against Minnesota.

Melo A Gametime Decision; Felton Says Knicks Owe One to Rockets

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Carmelo Anthony will be a game-time decision for tonight’s contest against Jeremy Lin and the Houston Rockets, but with or without Melo, Raymond Felton says the Knicks “owe” one to the Rockets.

The Rockets hammered the Knicks, 131-103, on Nov. 23 in Houston in a game in which Lin had 13 points and three assists and James Harden went off for 33 points and nine assists.

“Oh, no question,” Felton said Monday after shootaround. “This is the only team that really blew us out this whole year. So we definitely owe them something. Then on top of that we still want to protect our house.”

Linsanity Will Return to the Garden, But Only For One Night

By DAN KELLY

Special to ZAGSBLOG

NEW YORK — Linsanity will return to Madison Square Garden.

But only for one night.

Last season Jeremy Lin became an international basketball sensation when he emerged from seemingly nowhere to breath life into a Knicks team that was stumbling out of the gate.

The Knicks were 8-15 before Lin took over the point guard duties and led the team to seven straight wins and 16 victories in the next 25 games. The gutsy and improbable performance of an Asian-American who attended Harvard became known as “Linsanity” and won the collective heart of New York City and captured the world’s attention.