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New York Knicks: 20 greatest performances at Madison Square Garden

By Rob Wolkenbrod

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 24: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks acknowledges the crowd as he leaves a game against the Charlotte Bobcats after scoring his team record 62nd point at Madison Square Garden on January 24, 2014 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Bobcats 125-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 24: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks acknowledges the crowd as he leaves a game against the Charlotte Bobcats after scoring his team record 62nd point at Madison Square Garden on January 24, 2014 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Bobcats 125-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks
New York Knicks Jeremy Lin (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /

17. Jeremy Lin, 38 points: Feb. 10, 2012

The three-week stretch in Knicks history, known as “Linsanity,” took over the NBA in the 2011-12 season. It saw Jeremy Lin rise from obscure nobody to sensation overnight as the lead guard in head coach Mike D’Antonio’s offense.

Hardly not a superstar since, Lin’s numbers for a short time were incredible. He averaged 20.7 points, 8.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals in an 18-game stretch. D’Antoni gave the 24-year-old heavy minutes to boot, too, and caused a remarkable soar in value.

The pinnacle of “Linsanity” happened on Feb. 10, 2012, in a home game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Lin already broke out for three consecutive 20-plus point nights for the Knicks, but versus a group of Kobe Bryant, a still-in-his-prime Pau Gasol and a pre-knee-injury Andrew Bynum, it became a memorable night.

On 13-for-23 shooting, Lin scored a career-high 38 points, 10 of which were made free throws. Every shot had The Garden on its feet. When one of Lin’s shots went into the hoop, the packed house exploded in cheers.

It felt as if Lin could do nothing wrong. He hit his mid-range shots, found open lanes to the hoop and connected with teammates around the rim and on the perimeter. Each bit of magic, and against a prestigious team, felt special.

So much for the anguish over the lockout-shortened season, too, which started at the end of December. It put that negativity behind and gave basketball one of its most unusual stories ever, taking off with this eye-opening performance in 2012.

It was a euphoric night of basketball and what caused this end-of-the-bench player to fortify himself as a star for a few weeks.