NBA: New York 99, Atlanta 82

NEW YORK, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Jeremy Lin led a balanced New York attack with 17 points Wednesday and the Knicks breezed past Atlanta 99-82.

The shorthanded Hawks fell behind by 25 points at halftime and were unable to make a major charge despite holding New York scoreless for a stretch of 6:12 in the third quarter.

Lin had nine assists. Steve Novak scored 17 points and Landry Fields had 16 for the Knicks, who have won nine of their last 11 outings.

Atlanta played without leading scorer Joe Johnson, who will miss the All-Star game due to tendinitis in his left knee. Jeff Teague had 18 points for the Hawks, who have lost five out of six.