NEW YORK (AP) — Linsanity started against the New Jersey Nets.
This time, All-Star guard Deron Williams was determined not to be embarrassed by the Harvard guy again.
Williams scored a season-high 38 points, outplaying Jeremy Lin and leading the Nets to a 100-92 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night.
Lin began his remarkable run against the Nets about two weeks ago, but Williams and the Nets were ready for him this time.
Lin finished with 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, but Williams outscored him 36-11 through three quarters, when the Nets led by 18. Lin shot only 7 of 18 and the Knicks lost for the second time in 10 games since his emergence against the Nets on Feb. 4.
Carmelo Anthony, clearly rusty in his return from a seven-game absence with a strained right groin, shot 4 of 11 and scored 11 points.
BULLS 90, HAWKS 79
CHICAGO (AP) — Derrick Rose scored 23 points in his return from a five-game absence because of back pain to lead Chicago over struggling Atlanta.
Rose looked sharp to help the Bulls play more like championship contenders after a brutal loss to New Jersey two days earlier. They led by 18 through the first quarter and were up 55-37 at halftime, but found themselves hanging on in the end after a big push by Atlanta.
Rose also had six assists and five rebounds. Carlos Boozer added 16 points, Ronnie Brewer had 13, and Deng and John Lucas 10 apiece. Joakim Noah chipped in with 16 rebounds.
Pargo had 19 points, and Josh Smith added 17 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta.
THUNDER 101, HORNETS 93
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook scored 31 points apiece to lead Oklahoma City over New Orleans for its 10th straight home win.
One night after a historic performance featuring big scoring nights from All-Stars Durant and Westbrook and a triple-double from Serge Ibaka, the Thunder built a 26-point lead and then had to scrap it out at the end.
Jarrett Jack scored 18 points to lead New Orleans, which had a surprising three-game winning streak after losing 23 of 25.
New Orleans was within six before Westbrook hit four free throws in the final 48 seconds.
MAVERICKS 89, CELTICS 73
DALLAS (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki had 26 points and moved into the top 20 on the NBA career scoring list as Dallas beat short-handed Boston.
Nowitzki, who also had a season-high 16 rebounds, scored all of Dallas’ points in a 10-2 run midway through the second quarter that pushed the Mavericks ahead by 14. They led by double digits the rest of the way.
The Celtics were without suspended Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett and injured Brandon Bass. They also lost starters Jermaine O’Neal and Chris Wilcox to injuries in the third quarter.
Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 20 points. Ray Allen added 15 and Avery Bradley 12.
MAGIC 93, BUCKS 90
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Dwight Howard had 28 points and 16 rebounds, and Jameer Nelson added 15 points to lead Orlando to its third win over Milwaukee in 10 days.
Brandon Jennings had 22 points and Mike Dunleavy added 18 for the Bucks. Ersan Ilyaosova, coming off 29 points and 25 rebounds Sunday against New Jersey, had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
It was the Bucks’ sixth straight loss at home, the first time Milwaukee has lost six straight at the Bradley Center since a seven-game slide from Feb. 5-25, 2000.
Ryan Anderson hit a 3-pointer with 18.1 seconds remaining to put Orlando up 91-90 before Nelson was fouled with 10.8 seconds to go and hit both free throws for the final margin.
ROCKETS 97, GRIZZLIES 93
HOUSTON (AP) — Kyle Lowry scored 24 points, Kevin Martin added 22 and Courtney Lee hit four key free throws down the stretch to lead Houston over Memphis.
Houston led by seven before Memphis went on a 5-0 run to pull to 91-89 with 27.4 seconds left. O.J. Mayo got a rebound, took it down the court and finished with a layup to cap the run.
Lee made a pair of free throws before Rudy Gay’s layup with 19 seconds remaining got Memphis back within two points. Lee hit two more free throws and Quincy Pondexter’s layup cut it to two again before two free throws by Lowry secured the win.
Gay led the Grizzlies with 23 points and Mike Conley had 16.