Jeremy Lin scored 35 points for the Charlotte Hornets, leading the team to a 109-99 victory over the Toronto Raptors. It was exactly the kind of performance coach Steve Clifford envisioned this summer, when he predicted that Lin would play in the backcourt together with Kemba Walker, creating a tandem not unlike Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in Golden State.
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Walker scored 27 points, combining with with Lin for 62 of the Hornets 109 total points. The Hornets played without Nicolas Batum, who was sick, opening up minutes for Lin — the kind of minutes he’s been dreaming about. Lin characteristically drew fouls inside, getting to the foul line nine times and making seven. Lin shot 13-of-22 from the field, reversing a sub-50% shooting percentage that’s plagued him so far in Charlotte. It was only Lin’s second start as a Hornet. “That’s what I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Lin after the game. Lin played 47-plus minutes.
