Lin, Knicks roll; meet Heat next

 Jeremy Lin had an easy night ahead of his toughest opponent yet, and the New York Knicks tuned up for their trip to Miami by beating the Atlanta Hawks, 99-82, on Wednesday night at the Garden.

Lin had 17 points and nine assists, sitting out most of the fourth quarter.

Carmelo Anthony scored 15 points in his second game back from injury for the Knicks, who led the depleted Hawks by 25 points at halftime. New York bounced back from a loss to New Jersey and won for the ninth time in 11 games since Lin joined the rotation.

The Knicks visit Miami on Thursday in their final game before the all-star break.

Stats matter most

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says there's a reason Knicks guard Jeremy Lin should be celebrated. His numbers.

Not his heritage.

Spoelstra is the NBA's first Asian American coach, and Lin is the first Asian American player to make this kind of splash in the league.

Lin went into the game against Atlanta averaging 24.6 points and 9.2 assists since joining the Knicks' rotation. Spoelstra is hoping Lin is recognized more for that than where his parents are from.

Lin's parents were born in Taiwan. Spoelstra's mother is from the Philippines.

Lin is on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the second week in a row. He is the first New York-based team athlete to be given such treatment since the magazine started in 1954.

Lin is the 12th athlete to appear on the SI cover at least two weeks in a row since 1990. Dirk Nowitzki did it during last season's NBA Finals. Michael Jordan holds the record with three in row.

Odom to sit out game

Mavericks forward Lamar Odom missed the game against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Coach Rick Carlisle said Odom was excused from the game to attend to a family member. He didn't elaborate.

Odom is in his first season with Dallas. He played the last seven seasons with the Lakers.

Carlisle said Odom would rejoin the team after the all-star break.

- Associated Press