NBA

Lin has big night, says he’s ‘moved on’ from time with Knicks

TO THE HOOP: Jeremy Lin, who finished with 22 points and eight assists in his return to the Garden, drives to the basket between Ronnie Brewer (right) and Raymond Felton during the Knicks’ 109-96 loss to the Rockets. (Getty Images)

Jeremy Lin got his money. Last night at the Garden he got the last word on the Knicks. No, not the word “Linsanity.” The word “blowout.”

After the Rockets’ 109-96 victory over the Knicks was in the books, Lin made it clear he has moved on in every way possible.

Asked by The Post if he felt last night’s effort was an extension of last season’s 35-game Halley’s Comet run with the Knicks, Lin smiled and said, “Not really. I’m in a very different place now. My mindset is very different as well. I’ve moved on. They’ve moved on. We have good memories but at the same time we’re all in a different place now.’’

Lin has moved on but the Garden still brings out the best in him. He came into the game averaging 10.8 points, but had 16 at the half and 22 for the game, along with eight assists. He got more touches in the Rockets’ offense on this night and that made all the difference.

Lin drove hard to the hoop and was hammered by Tyson Chandler.

“He hit me hard, but I still kept coming,’’ Lin said. “It was fun.’’

For all the Knicks’ success this season, Lin showed he is missed.

For the first time this season, the basketball Mecca brought out the worst in the Carmelo Anthony-less Knicks after 10 straight victories at home, and this seemed like 10 losses rolled into one. This was a nightmare in every way for the Knicks, who were crushed by the Rockets last month in Houston. The veteran Knicks just couldn’t keep pace with the youthful Rockets as they spaced the floor and drove to the hoop.

Other teams could learn from the way the Rockets attack the Knicks.

Lin had center stage all to himself because Anthony sat out again with a sprained ankle and the former Knicks guard made the most of it. When Lin exited with 2:25 remaining, the crowd cheered in what seemed like a Rockets home game from the start. During introductions, the crowd gave Lin a standing ovation. On this night the Knicks gave their fans nothing to cheer about, except for rookie Chris Copeland’s 29 second-half points.

This was the kind of homecoming Lin could only dream about, but this is the place where his dreams did come true.

“It’s been an up and down season,’’ Lin admitted.

This was the up.

“There have been good stretches and not good stretches,’’ he said. “I think that’s all part of the growth of me as a young player and us as a young team. No one became great without going through adversity.’’

He became a $25 million player but now it is about creating a new niche, and that’s never easy. The Garden was his home. He was adored here.

For one night he was again adored on the biggest basketball stage in the world.

“I think when the schedule came out,’’ Lin said, “a lot of people were looking at this as a highlight game. It was fun to be back on that floor.’’

While Lin was a phenomenon with the Knicks, they are trying to be a phenomenal team this season, and last night threw cold water on them even though they were short-handed. This was a night Jason Kidd looked old and Raymond Felton forced shots. The Knicks were victimized off the dribble and had no answers as Anthony was missed from the start.

“Everything happens for a reason,’’ Lin said. “Right now I’m in a different place in my life, a different chapter, a different city.’’

Just like Paris in the movie classic Casablanca, Lin will always have last year.

“Any time you have a stretch like that you’ll remember it forever,’’ Lin said.

He can add last night to the Linsanity. Lin has his memories. He has his money. The Rockets have the Knicks’ number. Now is the supreme test. Jeremy Lin must forge a meaningful career.

His Garden return was a huge step in that journey.