Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin is hugged by former teammate New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler prior to the tip off of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, December 17, 2012.  [Photo/Agencies]

The Knicks, however, unexpectedly declined to match a three-year, $25 million offer by the Rockets in July for the restricted free agent, who took his game off Broadway to the Space City, where the league's previous Asian sensation - Yao Ming - rose to fame.

A quarter of the way through the 2012-13 season, Lin has been struggling with his role. He hasn't found his shooting stroke yet (39.5% overall), his stat line - 10.8 pts, 4.0 rebs, 6.0 asts - is far less impressive than that of his 25 starts with the Knicks (18.2 pts, 3.7 rebs, 7.7 asts), and for more than a few games, he was benched late in the game because the statistics suggest the team is in a better position to win.

He certainly had flashes of brilliance, with the latest evidence being his explosion for a career high tying 38 points against the Spurs on Dec 10, which the Rockets lost 134-126 in overtime, and another efficient night (13 pts, 3 asts, 7 rebs) in a 131-103 Nov 23 home victory over the red-hot Knicks. And we should of course count tonight's performance.

To put it simple: Lin's been inconsistent, and he's not meshed up well with his new teammates, which he himself admits

"I am not doing close to what I am capable of doing. I'm my harshest critic and I'll go ahead and say I'm doing terrible," he said after Sunday's road loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Could Monday's victory be a turning point for Lin and the Rockets (who were 12-12, sits at No.9 in the Western Conference)? He wishes.

"It gives us momentum. The story of our season has been win two, drop two, win three, drop three…things like that. We gotta keep pushing forward."

Nevertheless, Lin's legacy with the Knicks has been restored in the history of the metropolitan where we know a large number of Asian descendants will always show up to root for him once he came to the town. And that is just the emotional moment for every one who has witnessed his amazing run early this year.

"I looking to see him get victory in New York," said John Tsang, a salesman who was born in the Big Apple and growing up being a Knicks fan. "I think Jeremy Lin make all Asian faces proud."

Lin, on the other side, says he is aware of the love from his fans.

"I had fun out there. Thanks to the fans. I know a lot of people showed up, supported, wore my old jerseys, things like that. So I am still thankful for the fans."