Jeremy Lin scored 21 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished nine assists as the Brooklyn Nets beat the Indiana Pacers 103-94. It was the Nets home opener and Lin roared in Brooklyn, elevating a franchise that has struggled for an identity and for victories. The other half of Brook-Lin, Brook Lopez scored 25 points.
The win was significant not only because it marked the first for the newly configured Nets. The Pacers game also marked a contest featuring teams that made the biggest point guard moves of the offseason. Indiana president Larry Bird brought All-Star Jeff Teague from Atlanta to quarterback a Pacers team with high expectations. And, of course, the Nets gave their starting job (and a $36 million deal) to Lin. Lin will have to be effective against players like Teague if he’s to establish himself as a All-Star caliber starter, a position he’s worked to put himself in. He’s off to a good start. Teague scored four points on 2-of-13 shooting in 28 minutes. The starting backcourt for Indiana scored just 15 points in all.
