National Basketball Association

Lin to start at point guard for Knicks

Published Feb. 6, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Former Harvard star Jeremy Lin, who was not selected in last year's draft, will start Monday night at point guard for the Knicks against Utah.

Head coach Mike D'Antoni said Baron Davis, recovering from herniated disks, is at least seven to 10 days away from playing. The veteran may not be ready to debut for the Knicks until after All-Star Weekend at the end of the month.

D'Antoni said Lin's defense in Saturday night's breakthrough performance against the Nets was a big factor in making the move immediately.

"He runs the pick-and-roll which a lot my offense is predicated," D'Antoni said. "He did a good job finding the open guy. He took the right shots. Above all I thought his defense was really good. That's why I don't hesitate throwing him in with the starters. I thought he defended really well."

Lin, the new Madison Square Garden folk hero, is coming off a 25-point, seven-assist performance off the bench in Saturday's victory in which the crowd chanted "Jer-e-my!" throughout the second half.

Lin's emergence is huge considering the Davis situation had taken a turn for the worst last week.

"I think it's safe to say he had a little setback. I don't know how bad. He sat two, three days to calm down," D'Antoni said.

The Knicks coach was not sure whether the two-time All-Star would be able to return to practice Tuesday.