Big Apple abuzz as Lin lights up Bryant, Lakers

NEW YORK — Jeremy Lin outplayed Kobe Bryant, ended the mighty Lakers’ dominance of the Knicks and then tried to pretend it was just another game.

Wrong.

This was the night that proved he’s no one-week wonder, that he’s got a real NBA career ahead of him.

After all, Kobe’s waiting for revenge next season.

Lin had the most astounding performance of his remarkable week, scoring a career-high 38 points and outdueling Bryant as New York held off the Los Angeles Lakers, 92-85, on Friday night.

Buried deep on the bench a little more than a week ago, Lin led the Knicks to their fourth straight win, tying their longest streak of the season. His two free throws with 52 seconds left amid booming “MVP! MVP!” chants stopped the Lakers’ final rally and allowed the undrafted Harvard product to pass Carmelo Anthony for the highest-scoring game by a Knicks player this season.

“I didn’t try to see this game as any different,” Lin said. “I just try to make sure that when I get there on the floor, I play as hard as I can and try to do everything I can to help the team win.

“The only thing we established tonight is four in a row. Now we try to go for five tomorrow. I’m not too worried about proving anything to anybody. As a team we’re growing and trying to build on the momentum.”

Iman Shumpert added 12 points for the Knicks, who are still without Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. But they have Lin, the point guard that two other teams gave up on in December and didn’t get his chance in New York until three other players couldn’t do the job.

Bryant finished with 34 points, but he got off to a horrendous start and finished only 11 of 29 from the field. Pau Gasol had 16 points and 10 rebounds, but All-Star Andrew Bynum was only 1 of 8 for three points with 13 rebounds as the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak against the Knicks was snapped.

Five of those wins had come at Madison Square Garden, where fans used to roar for Bryant.

They’ve got a new favorite now, and who could have ever predicted it’d be Lin?

“I think it’s a great story,” Bryant said. “I think it’s a testament to perseverance and hard work. Good example for kids everywhere.”

A night earlier, Bryant said he wasn’t familiar with Lin’s game. Now, he’ll awake to headlines everywhere that Lin beat him at the “world’s most famous arena.”

“Enjoy it,” Bryant said. “They’ll receive judgment next season.”

SLAM DUNKS

Power struggle: Dirk Nowitzki welcomed Kevin Love back from his two-game suspension with a season-high 33 points, winning the matchup of Western Conference All-Star power forwards and helping the Mavericks stave off a Timberwolves rally with 104-97 victory on Friday. Nowitzki topped 24 points for the fourth straight game. Love finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds.

Deng’s heart was dinged: The low point for the Bulls’ Luol Deng came in the spring of 2009. Sidelined with a stress fracture in his right leg, he got ripped by those who questioned the severity of the injury. “Sitting there and reading everything in the papers and from the fans … that was the craziest thing I’ve ever had to go through,” Deng said . “Before that, I kind of felt like I was loved by everyone. I had never experienced that – if you want to call it hate, or whatever it was. (But) I think it really helped me to bounce back, knowing how things work.” Deng has bounced back to the point of being selected as an Eastern Conference reserve for the Feb. 26 All-Star Game in Orlando, Fla. It’s his first nod in eight seasons.

Fastbreaks: Manu Ginobili will return to the San Antonio Spurs’ lineup today in New Jersey after missing more than a month with a broken left hand. Ginobili practiced Friday and will play against the Nets, though coach Gregg Popovich wasn’t sure if he would start and says his minutes would be “not many.” … Rookie point guard Kyrie Irving won’t be in the lineup today when the Cavaliers host the 76ers. In fact, under the NBA’s stiffer concussion guidelines, he won’t return until he passes a series of physical tests and the director of the league’s new concussion program consults on the case. The procedure to be cleared from a concussion now can take multiple days or even weeks in severe cases. … The Hornets say starting point guard Jarrett Jack is expected to be out at least a week because of soreness in his left knee. … Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd returned to the Dallas lineup after missing the previous six games because of a strained right calf muscle. The 38-year-old Kidd has played in more games (1,284) than any other active player in the NBA.