Jeremy Lin scored 17 points and added nine assists to spark the New York Knicks to a win over Atlanta 99-82 on Wednesday, the team improving to 9-2 since the Chinese-American star emerged from a reserve role.

Steve Novak added 17 points for the Knicks while Landry Fields added 16 and Carmelo Anthony contributed 15 points as the Knicks improved to 17-17 entering a Thursday matchup at Miami against the NBA leading Heat.

With J.R. Smith just signed after spending the early part of the season in China and Anthony back from an injury, the Knicks have started to come together, with Lin adding punch with timely passing as well as scoring.

"We have a lot of offensive weapons now," Lin said. "I don't need to shoot as much with these guys coming back. We have J.R. and Anthony back. We're going to move the ball and make the defenses pay."

Lin said he relishes the challenge presented by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

"They are so quick and athletic," Lin said. "We need to make sure we try to get into the paint instead of just move the ball around the three-point line. We're going to play hard. LeBron is a great player and great defender. I've got to just continue to be aggressive and not change anything."

Jeff Teague scored 18 points and Willie Green added 16 to lead the Hawks, who fell behind 60-35 at halftime and could not challenge in the second half, falling to 19-14.

Meanwhile, Chris Paul poured salt into the wounds of the ailing Denver Nuggets with 36 points and nine assists to carry the LA Clippers to a 103-95 home win on Wednesday. 

    With the Clippers looking to avoid a third straight defeat, Paul took the game by the scruff of the neck with 17 straight Clippers' points spanning the final two quarters of a tight contest.

Los Angeles trailed 92-91 with about five minutes left, but Denver went ice cold and were held without a point over a four-minute stretch where the Clippers outscored them 8-0.

The Clippers' Blake Griffin had 27 points and 12 rebounds to help repel Denver. 

The Nuggets have been hit hard by injuries and were without key players Nene, Rudy Fernandez, Danilo Gallinari and Ty Lawson.

Arron Afflalo led Denver with 20 points and Jordan Hamilton had 18 as Denver lost for the fourth time in five games.