Already the NBA’s biggest story, Linsanity had peaked about 24 hours earlier with the former Harvard guard’s winner in Toronto. The shot was replayed on the overhead video board at the Garden, triggering a huge ovation as if it had just happened live.

But Lin, the reigning Eastern Conference player of the week, would have few other scoring highlights, taking only six shots.

Fans, quite a few wearing Lin’s jerseys or holding masks of his face, loved it anyway. They chanted “MVP! MVP!” as he was interviewed on the court after the game and held up signs such as “Lin Your Face,” ”Linderella,” and — of course — “Marry Me Jeremy.”