 In 2013 – 14 , Lin was replaced in the Rockets ' starting lineup by Patrick Beverley , and Lin became the second unit 's primary ball handler and scoring option as the team 's sixth man . Houston liked beginning games with Beverley 's defensive pressure , but also preferred increasing Lin 's playing time without Harden also on the court . Lin and Harden were both attacking players offensively , but each struggled defensively . In November , Lin established the highest two @-@ game scoring total of his career , 65 points , including season @-@ highs of 34 points and 11 assists along with a Rockets record @-@ tying nine three @-@ pointers in a start in place of an injured Harden . It was followed by a 21 @-@ point performance in a win at New York . He received a round of applause upon entering the game , though it was more subdued than in his first return against the Knicks . On November 27 , Lin sprained his right knee against the Atlanta Hawks , causing him to miss six games . He missed four additional games in December due to back spasms ; he started in his return on December 23 with both Harden and Beverley injured — Beverley was estimated to be out four to six weeks due to a fractured right hand . On February 1 , 2014 , Lin recorded 15 points , 11 rebounds and 10 assists — his first career triple @-@ double — in 29 minutes off the bench in a 106 – 92 home victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers . He was the first Rocket to notch a triple @-@ double off the bench since Cedric Maxwell in 1988 . However , he went into a shooting slump after the All @-@ Star break , and again experienced problems with his back . 
