Lin and Hornets sting Spurs

Jeremy Lin of the Charlotte Hornets reacts after making a basket against the San Antonio Spurs during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina. Lin rescued the Hornets on a night when they started miserably, scoring 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting with four 3-pointers in a 91-88 stunner. Streeter Lecka / Getty Images / AFP

Charlotte rallies from 23-point deficit to stun San Antonio

Eleven seconds into the second quarter, Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford called a timeout with his team trailing the San Antonio Spurs 30-7 on Monday night.

"I told them to please try harder," Clifford said with a laugh after the game.

"I'm begging you. I know y'all make more money than me. I know most of you could get me fired. I'm just saying, please."

Jeremy Lin answered that plea, scoring 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to help Charlotte rally for a 91-88 victory, snapping the Spurs' six-game winning streak and denying them their 60th win of the season.

The 23-point lead was the largest surrendered by the Spurs in the Tim Duncan era, which began in 1997, according to information provided to the Hornets by Elias Sports Bureau.

Lin was 11 of 18 from the field and hit all four 3-point attempts, including three in the fourth quarter. He also provided the go-ahead jumper with 48 seconds left.

"He was spectacular," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "We couldn't stop him all night. He had a great night. He was wonderful."

Charlotte became the first team to score seven points or fewer in the opening quarter and come back to win since the Utah Jazz against the New Jersey Nets on Dec 12, 2008.

"We turned the ball over a little too much - just inconsistency throughout," Duncan said. "It was an unfortunate loss, but we will move on from it and hopefully become better from it."

Courtney Lee had 17 points, including 14 in a pivotal third quarter.

Nicolas Batum added 15 points and Cody Zeller grabbed 14 rebounds for the Hornets, who bounced back from a disappointing loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.

"We just turned it up," Lin said. "We just played hard. I'm so thankful to God because I've been struggling so much.

"We lost one the other night we felt like we shouldn't have lost, so to come out here and win is a huge boost for us."

Tony Parker had 19 points for the Spurs, while LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Duncan had 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Spurs had two chances to tie it at the end of regulation, but Patty Mills and Danny Green both missed 3-point attempts.

Lee sealed the game with a steal off an inbounds pass as time expired.

The Hornets snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Spurs and picked up an important win.

"Lin was the catalyst in this," Clifford said. "In the first quarter, I don't know what the numbers were, but we were just shooting the ball (and weren't) getting in the paint.

"He got the ball going toward the basket. So we scored 84 in three quarters against a team right now, by the numbers, is going to be the best defensive team in NBA history."

It looked early on like San Antonio would rout the Hornets.

The Spurs led 28-7 after the first quarter, holding the Hornets to 3-of-21 shooting from the field - including a pair of airballs - while forcing five turnovers.

Parker outscored the Hornets all by himself in the opening quarter with 12 points.

But Charlotte battled back, steadily chipping away until finally taking the lead with 9:09 left in the game behind a pair of 3-pointers from Lin from the top of the key.

"When the first 3 went down I got more comfortable," Lin said.

Lin provided the shot of the night, hitting a fallaway jumper from 16 feet on the right wing with 48 seconds left to give the Hornets the lead for good at 89-88.

He then grabbed a rebound at the other end of the floor and was fouled.

Lin converted two free throws with 18 seconds left for the final margin.

Howard resents 'cheater' label

Dwight Howard is surprised and disappointed he is being labeled a cheater.

The NBA is reviewing the Rockets center's use of a sticky substance on his hands during Houston's loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

Atlanta's Paul Millsap complained about the ball while shooting free throws with 3:36 remaining in the first quarter. Howard made a layup before Millsap's free throws.

Howard said on Monday he does not understand what all the fuss is about.

"I just think that it's getting overblown, like I'm doing something crazy," he said. "But again, I've never been a cheater, never been the type of player that has to do something illegal to win. It's upsetting, but I can't control it now."

After the incident, referees gave warnings to each bench and then approached the scorer's table, where they were directed to a can covered with white tape.

The can was removed, and one of the officials told the scorer to alert him if it was seen again.

Howard noted many players use sprays and powders on their hands during games.

"I've been using the spray for the last five years," he said. "I never hid the spray. I never did anything to try to hide what I was doing. It was just something to make my hands dry."

There was no penalty issued during the game. Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the league interviewed him on Sunday night, but he has not been notified of any disciplinary action.