Deron Williams (r.) outplayed Jeremy Lin as the Nets topped the Knicks 100-92 at MSG Monday night. (AP Photo)

NEW YORK – A scoreboard malfunction turned into an ominous sign of a night on the fritz for the hometown New York Knicks.

At the end of the first quarter, the JumboTron above the Madison Square Garden hardwood failed to operate correctly – momentarily – as the scoreboards throughout MSG flashed a plus 100 hundred score for the Orange and Blue. Although the Knicks didn’t start that strong, they started strong enough, leading by three at the end of the first period before the New Jersey Nets and playmaker Deron Williams stole the show. Williams netted a season-high 38 points in a 100-92 New Jersey victory.

For one night, the “Linsanity” took a backseat.

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Jeremy Lin and new teammate J.R. Smith (r.) led the Knicks past Dallas on Sunday. (AP Photo)

NEW YORK – The New York Knicks went from playing one of the worst teams in the NBA to the playing the defending world champions 48 hours later. In losing Friday night to the New Orleans Hornets, the Knicks turned the ball over 21 times leading to 28 Hornet points.

Ten missed free throws didn’t help their cause either in the four-point loss. Playing the Dallas Mavericks Sunday afternoon, all eyes were once again focused on Knicks guard Jeremy Lin, who has received national prominence since he was elevated into the starting lineup.

Lin turned the ball nine times (eight in the first half) in the loss against the Hornets and head coach Mike D’Antoni wanted to make sure he did not lose his confidence and aggressiveness. Based on the results of the first period, Lin put that game in his rear view as the Knicks upset Dallas 104-97.

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Jeremy Lin (above) and the Knicks came up short Friday night. (AP Photo)

NEW YORK – The streak had to end at some point.

You just didn’t think it would end against a New Orleans Hornets team that came into Madison Square Garden with a total of six wins.

New Orleans 89, New York 85.

With Carmelo Anthony missing yet another game with his annoying groin strain, the New York Knicks did something they hadn’t done all year. They scored their lowest first period points (13). Combine that with Jeremy Lin’s five turnovers and the Knicks trailed by 14 (27-13) after the first period. “The game just started off flat,” said head coach Mike D’Antoni. “We were not really aggressive.” Surprising in that they had a day off to rest after their win Wednesday against Sacramento. “Some nights you just don’t have it,” D’Antoni continued. “We could never get any traction.”

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Tony Allen and the Grizzles sent New Jersey to another defeat Wednesday night. -PHOTO BY OREN VOURMAN / LSV

Newark, NJ – The New Jersey Nets lost their seven straight game Wednesday night, as a 10 point, second quarter lead quickly evaporated into a 105-100 loss to the visiting Memphis Grizzlies.

Perhaps it was the retro golden/mustard-yellow tops with forest-green lettering and green shorts, but the Grizzlies, paying homage to the Memphis Tams (ABA 1972-74), found new life in the fourth quarter where forward Marreese Speights scored eight of his 20 points, as all five Memphis starters scored in double figures.

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Jeremy Lin and the Knicks reeled off their seventh straight Wednesday night. -PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

NEW YORK – It was his first game back at Madison Square Garden since he torched Kobe Bryant and the Lakers last Friday to the tune of a game, season and career high 38 points. Add to that two come-from-behind road wins (including the game winner against Toronto) and you knew why the sold out crowd erupted when Jeremy Lin was introduced prior to the game against the Sacramento Kings.

Given how the Knicks have fared against teams with losing records at home, the Kings and their 10-18 mark were no easy target. That was before Lin was propelled into the starting lineup.

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Despite some sparkling moments, rookie MarShon Brooks (above) and the New Jersey Nets fell to the Spurs on Saturday. -PHOTO BY OREN VOURMAN / LSV

Newark, NJ – The retro jersey vibe sweeping the NBA made a visit to the Prudential Center in downtown Newark this Saturday Night where the San Antonio Spurs donned their ABA Dallas/Texas Chaparrals attire in a 103-89 win over the New Jersey Nets, who were playing in their ABA New York Nets apparel.

The Spurs, who were once named the Chaparrals from their founding in 1967 until 1973, wore white jerseys with red script lettering spelling out “Chaps,” complete with white shorts that had an outline of the state of Texas drawn in the same velvety red.

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Knicks rookie sensation Jeremy Lin (l.) was up to it again Friday night at the Garden. He scored 38 points in a victory over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. -PHOTO BY OREN VOURMAN / LSV

NEW YORK – The pre-game festivities at Madison Square Garden Friday night resembled that of a playoff game, with former Knick great Larry Johnson counting down till the arena went dark, and fireworks exploding out of the jumbo-tron.

What was all the hoopla all about?

The MSG channel billed it as “The Event,” in which the new-look Knicks hosted the Los Angeles Lakers.

Perhaps, though, it should have been titled: Jeremy Lin saves the Knicks again – part four.

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Ricky Rubio (r.) put on a show in New Jersey Friday night. -PHOTO BY OREN VOURMAN / LSV

Newark, NJ – It was the heist of the shortened season.

With less than five seconds left in regulation, Minnesota’s rookie point guard Ricky Rubio snagged an errant Deron Williams pass under the basket to safeguard a Timberwolves win over the Nets: 108-105 from the Prudential Center Friday night.

It was Rubio’s sixth steal of the evening, and Williams’s game-high sixth turnover, committed as the Nets’ starting guard drove to the bucket looking to pass it off to the left corner, where a wide-open Anthony Morrow stood waiting to bring the game to overtime.

Morrow was the obvious go-to guy, as the New Jersey ace smoked the Timberwolves for a career-high 42 points, going 8 of 11 from downtown, the most made 3s in the NBA this season, with three four-point plays.

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Deron Williams guided the Nets to victory Wednesday night in Newark. -PHOTO BY OREN VOURMAN / LSV

Newark, NJ – The New Jersey Nets snapped a two-game losing streak Wednesday night, as the Detroit Pistons’ Brandon Knight missed on a clean 3-point attempt to tie at the buzzer, for a 99-96 Nets home win.

Knight, who was open left of the key, barely managed to squeeze off the shot as New Jersey guard Deron Williams popped up in front of him. The shot clanged off the rim, as the Nets held on to win a game they had once led by 12 points.

“It felt good, but it didn’t fall in,” said Knight of his last second attempt. “Shots don’t always fall, that’s what happens sometimes. As long as we get the looks we want, and not turnovers. We didn’t want to lose on not having enough effort or energy to win.”

The Pistons, not wanting to embarrass themselves after back-to-back double digit losses, found their groove in the third quarter, when center Greg Monroe (21 points) and forward Tayshaun Prince (21 points, six boards) played an inside-outside game.

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Landry Fields helped the Knicks get back in the win column Tuesday night. -PHOTO BY OREN VOURMAN / LSV

NEW YORK – Perhaps a visit by the weary Detroit Pistons was all the that the slumping-of-late New York Knicks needed to end a three-game losing streak, in a 113-86 home win at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night.

The Knicks, who had lost nine of their last 10 games (that after a four-game win streak to start the month) found their mark on the court, shooting 60 percent from the field (the first time since 2005) and 50 percent from 3-point range.

Knicks guard Landry Fields got the scoring spree started for the Knickerbockers by going a perfect 6 of 6 from the perimeter in the first half, including 4 of 4 from downtown, and finished with 18 points, five rebounds and a game-high five steals.

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