Sports

After scare from Lin, Iona’s Machado thrilled to make Rockets roster

Scott Machado has proven his doubters wrong, though for a second Jeremy Lin had him fearing for the worst.

Lin called Machado wishing him good luck in his future endeavors, making the undrafted former Iona star and Queens native think he was cut by the Rockets. The call was intended for another rookie, Jeremy Lamb, who was included in the blockbuster trade for Thunder star James Harden.

“I was like, ‘Hey, it’s Scott, it’s not Jeremy,’” Machado told the Houston Chronicle of his conversation with Lin. “’Did you hear something about me?’ I was all nervous. He was like, “Oh, I apologize, I apologize.’ It all worked out.”

Once that was straightened out and his main competitor, Shaun Livingston, wasn’t at practice on Monday, Machado, 22, could take a deep breath and enjoy his achievement: making an NBA roster after a solid showing at the team’s training camp.

“It feels amazing,” he told The Post before boarding a plane to Detroit, where the Rockets will take on the Pistons tonight in both teams’ season opener. “It’s something I always wanted. It’s a blessing.”

Machado performed well enough during the NBA summer league in Las Vegas with the Rockets to be invited to training camp and continued to impress over the last month. He racked up 21 points and 32 assists in six preseason games despite seeing just 13 minutes per game, and did post nine points and 11 assists in a contest against the Spurts two week ago.

“I was nervous, but I’ve played well and I’ve been working hard, just trying to prove myself,” said Machado, who led Iona to its first NCAA Tournament since 2006 this March while leading the nation in assists per game (9.9) and being named MAAC Player of the Year.

Machado, who starred at New Jersey prep powerhouse St. Benedict’s Prep under current Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley, will serve as Lin’s backup, along with Toney Douglas, another former Knick.

“I’m trying to be the best I can be, and I want to be one of the best point guards out there,” Machado said. “I’m excited I got picked to stay with this team and be able to help this organization.”