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Wizards coach Randy Wittman knew about Lin from a close relative. His son played against Lin in college. Ryan Wittman, who played for Cornell, sent his father a sarcastic message during the game.
"He told me that they did a much better job guarding him than we did tonight," Wittman said. "I already had that text message before the game was over. Makes Dad feel good."
Washington dropped to 5-21, and failed again to get its first two-game winning streak of the season. John Wall led the Wizards with 29 points, but he was easily outdone by Lin.
The Knicks shot just 25 percent in the first quarter and trailed 23-17. Lin missed all three shots he attempted, and moments after the third, he was called for his second foul -- a block against Wall -- and sustained a gash and left the game with 4:06 to play.
The second quarter was much better for New York as it outscored Washington 35-23 to take a 52-46 halftime lead. Novak hit four 3-pointers.
Lin returned about two minutes into the second quarter and scored eight points -- on three layups and a pretty 17-foot bank shot just before halftime. He found Novak for all four of his 3s.
Lin scored on a bank shot to start the third quarter, and after Washington scored the next 10 points for a 56-54 lead, he hit four free throws, another layup and a right-handed dunk with 2:59 left to give the Knicks a 72-66 lead. He made another layup to end the quarter with 12 points -- and a 77-68 New York advantage.
The Wizards narrowed the deficit to 79-72, but Lin and Iman Shumpert, who had 11 of his 17 points in the quarter helped give New York a 103-85 lead with 3:22 to play.
NOTES: Five of the seven Knicks who scored were in double figures. ... New York G Baron Davis, who hasn't played this season due to a herniated disk in his back, will return to practice on Thursday, D'Antoni said. He's not sure when Davis will be ready to play. ... Stoudemire will return next Monday. He's scheduled to miss four games. ... Washington F Rashard Lewis missed his second straight game with a sore left knee. ... Trevor Booker had 17 points for the Wizards.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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