Lin's big double-double lifts knicks past Mavericks

Jeremy Lin had 28 points and a career-high 14 assists to end the Dallas Mavericks six-game winning streak in New York Knicks' 104-97 victory on Sunday. Steve Novak made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter in Knicks pursuit of scores, who were 12 points behind in the third. J.R. Smith scored 15 points in his Knicks debut and Novak had all of his 14 in the final period as New York won for the eighth time in nine games. Lin shot 11 of 21 and contributed five steals, also committed seven turnovers in Knicks' only third victory over Mavericks in their last 20 matchups. The Knicks reeled off 17 straight points in the first quarter with a three-pointer and a layup to give New York a 32-20 lead. The Mavericks cut the deficit to three after a offense spurt and extended the momentum to the third quarter, building up a 12-point lead until the Knicks shaped up from Lin's assists to Novak's three-point attempts. Novak was on fire in the fourth. He scored 14 of the Knicks' first 15 points in the period. Lin was the first Knick other than Novak to make a shot in the fourth. His three gave the Knicks a 90-81 edge with 6:51 to go. The Mavericks cut the Knicks' lead to 95-93 after a Lin turnover led to a Jason Terry three with 3:26 remaining. Lin atoned on the next trip as he knocked down a three-pointer to make it a six-point game with 2:57 left. Dallas were within three again after Marion's layup with 1:07 left. After a wasted Knicks trip, Terry had a look at a three to tie it, but he missed. Lin got the rebound and passed it ahead for a Smith layup and five-point lead with 28.5 seconds left. The Mavericks used different players to defend Lin. They started out putting 6-7 forward Shawn Marion on Lin. Jason Kidd was on him for some time. But Lin continued to show he's unflappable and can play big in big moments. Playing for the seventh straight game without the injured Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks got a lift from Smith, just signed Friday after returning from China. Smith hit three of the Knicks' 12 3-pointers. Lin had nine turnovers, tied for the most in the NBA this season, Friday in an 89-85 loss to New Orleans that stopped a seven-game winning streak. He has committed six or more in six straight games, but D'Antoni said Saturday he wanted Lin to keep taking risks.