Linsanity Returns to New York as Jeremy Lin Scores 19 to Crush Cavs

Linsanity returned to New York Wednesday night as Jeremy Lin scored 19 points to crush the Cavs before a packed house at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks' breakout point guard also racked up 13 assists and only one turnover. Carmelo Anthony also shined, showing glimpses of his All-Star status as he scored 22 points in New York's 120-103 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But the real story of the night was Steve Novak, who had 17 points off the bench, continuing his run as this season's other breakout Knicks star.

In fact, the Knicks were trailing the entire game until Novak hit back-to-back threes in the final minutes of the third quarter, putting the Knicks up 75-74 before their triumphant fourth quarter, which buried rookie point guard Kyrie Iriving and the Cavs in their third straight loss.

And Irving and Lin were the focuses of the game, despite what numbers anyone else managed to put up. Irving is a likely rookie of the year candidate, and Lin is the NBA's biggest story of the condensed season, resurrecting a lagging Knicks team that was suffering under the weight of too many ball-hogs.

The game was the Knicks' first since the All-Star break, and it gives them some momentum going into the second half of the season, though they lost their last game before the break in Miami to LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and the Heat.

The win keeps them in playoff contention, though a berth is anything but secured for the Knicks, as the team is barely over .500 and needs to keep up the good play moving forward.

Either way, Lin has led the Knicks to 10 wins in the last 13 games, and given the team and the city of New York more confidence, pride and pep than they've had in years.

But if they want to beat better teams than the dismal Cavs, the Knicks are going to have to play better than they have been lately, as they were down by 17 points at one point tonight.

That's not going to fly Sunday against Kevin Garnett in Boston against the Celtics.