words // Brandon Richard
The 'Linsanity' train kept rolling Friday night, as the resurgent New York Knicks hosted Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in a primetime showcase of the NBA's newest star. With all eyes on him, Jeremy Lin did not disappoint; in fact, he played the best game of his career. Giving all kinds of problems to the Lakers' point guard tandem of Derek Fisher and Steve Blake, Lin connected on 13 of his 23 field goal attempts for 38 points, also adding 7 assists and 4 rebounds on the night. Kobe tried to answer with 34 points of his own, particularly when he caught fire in the fourth quarter, but Lin made play after play down the stretch to lead New York to a big 92-85 win.
In other Friday night action, the Atlanta Hawks continued their recent dominance over the Orlando Magic with an 89-87 win in OT; Chris Paul hit a game-winner in Philly to push the Clippers past the 76ers; Toronto scored a rare victory over the Celtics in Boston; the Chicago Bulls handed Charlotte a 31-point loss without Derrick Rose in the lineup; Miami cruised past Washington in the Nation's capital; Brandon Jennings helped the Milwaukee Bucks avoid dropping a close OT game in Cleveland; Dirk continued to look like the Dirk we know with 33 points in a Mavericks win over Kevin Love and the T-Wolves; and Russell Westbrook's 28 led Oklahoma City past Utah to maintain the West's best record.
Read on for a look at the sneakers worn in these games and more in today's Sneaker Watch.
images via ESPN
Jeremy Lin takes off in the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse Low.
Kobe Bryant dribbles up the court in the Nike Kobe VII.
Bill Walker shoots in the Reebok Question.
Jared Jeffries celebrates with Jeremy in the "Old Royal" Air Jordan Retro 10.
Shameful and painful.
Tracy McGrady drives by Quentin Richardson, wearing the adidas adiZero Ghost and "Old Royal Air Jordan 10 respectively.
Dwight Howard goes up strong in the adidas adiPower Howard 2.
Josh Smith dunks in the adidas adiZero Shadow.
Jrue Holiday drives in the adidas adiZero Shadow.
DeAndre Jordan throws down the hammer in the Under Armour Micro G Funk.
Chris Paul laced up his Jordan CP3.V in Blue/White.
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Dwyane Wade posts up in the Jordan Fly Wade 2; John Wall defends in his Reebok Zig Encore.
JaVale McGee dunks in PEAK shoes.
LeBron James drives in the Nike LeBron 9; Nick Young defends in the "Metallic Red" Nike Air Foamposite One.
Ray Allen looks for an open teammate in his Air Jordan 2011 A Flight PE; DeMar DeRozan puts a hand up in the "Chicago" Air Jordan Retro 10.
Leandro Barbosa drives in the adidas adiZero Crazy Light Low.
Kevin Garnett shoots in the ANTA KG 2.
Marquis Daniels shoots in the Under Armour Micro G Supersonic.
Jose Calderon wearing the Li-Ning Hero Low.
Joakim Noah fights for a rebound in the Le Coq Sportif Joakim Pro Model 2.0.
C.J. Watson wearing red PEAK shoes; Kemba Walker rocked a silver colorway of the Under Armour Micro G Funk.
Brandon Jennings takes it to the cup in the "50/50" Under Armour Micro G Bloodline.
Anderson Varejao goes reverse in the Nike Hyperdunk.
Brandon Knights looks for an open teammate in the adidas Crazy 8.
Ben Gordon goes to the rack in the Nike Zoom Kobe VI iD.
Austin Daye posts in the Nike Zoom KD IV; Anthony Morrow defends in PEAK shoes.
Deron Williams shoots in his Nike Zoom Hyperdunk 2011 Low PE.
Gerald Wallace drives in Jordan Big Ups.
Greivis Vasquez wearing a purple PE colorway of the Under Armour Bloodline.
Dirk Nowitzki posts up in the Nike Zoom Hyperdunk 2011.
Delonte West dribbes in the Nike Air Max Uptempo 2.
Jason Kidd back in the Nike Air Zoom Flight Five.
Luke Ridnour shoots in the Nike Zoom Kobe V.
Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo meet up in PE colorways of the Nike Zoom Hyperenforcer and Hyperdunk 2011.
Enes Kanter posts up in the "Concord" Air Jordan 11.
Devin Harris attempts a layup in a PE colorway of the adidas adiZero Shadow.
Kevin Durant dunks in a Black/White Nike Zoom KD IV PE.
A closer look at KD's white-branded "Blackouts."