Guard Lin leads surging Hornets on playoff push
Perhaps this is the start of Linsanity II.
Hornets guard Jeremy Lin is heating up, and surging Charlotte is blazing a trail to its second playoff appearance in three seasons under coach Steve Clifford.
Lin scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter Monday to lead the Hornets back from a 23-point deficit to beat San Antonio — the largest lead surrendered by the Spurs in the Tim Duncan era. Lin followed that with another strong performance Tuesday night, scoring 21 points in a win over Brooklyn.
Michael Jordan’s Hornets (4130) now find themselves in a threeway tie with Boston and Atlanta for the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, just a half-game behind third-place Miami.
Lin is a major reason why. Acquired in the off-season via free agency, Lin is averaging 11.8 points and 2.9 assists per game for the Hornets in a reserve role.
Ordinary numbers, compared with his history, but he’s stepped up his play the past two games, hitting 63 per cent (19 of 30) from the field, including five of six from beyond the arc. He’s scoring in a variety of ways — long jumpers, drives to basket and on fast breaks. He’s also added nine rebounds and six assists, while providing a spark coming off the bench.
“He’s been phenomenal,” Hornets point guard Kemba Walker said.
When the Hornets trailed 30-7 to the Spurs in the second quarter, it was Lin who helped turn the momentum providing energy off the bench. He penetrated into the lane, which opened up the offence
“Jeremy was the catalyst,” Clifford said. “In the first quarter, we were just shooting. The ball wasn’t getting into the paint. And he got the ball going to the basket.”
Lin hit three-pointers in the fourth quarter and a 16-foot fallaway jumper with 48 seconds left, to give the Hornets the lead for good.
He said the win over the Spurs was a confidence builder for him.
“I think being comfortable and not thinking as much on the court and letting the ball fly and having fun,” Lin said of the difference in his game. “Shots are going in, and I think that helps me, helps open up my drive.”
Forward Nicolas Batum said Lin has been “huge” for the Hornets.
“He did it (Monday) night in the second quarter to give us life, and he did it again (Tuesday) night,” Batum said. “I don’t think we would have won that game if he didn’t step up again for us.”
Lin appears to have found a home in Charlotte, where, he says “I love playing with this group of guys.”
Charlotte has won 17 of its past 21 games, to break free from the pack in the East and vault into playoff contention.
“We learned a lot about ourselves, and we just want to keep seeing what we can do,” Lin said.