Jeremy Lin injury news update 2016: Brooklyn Nets point guard returns

Point guard Jeremy Lin returned to the Brooklyn Nets' lineup last Friday, Dec. 16, in their match against Orlando Magic.

Although the Nets suffered a 118–111 loss to the Magic, Lin played fairly well, according to CBS Sports. After missing a game against the Lakers on Wednesday, Lin came back on Friday with 17 points, three rebounds, and three assists across 20 minutes of play time.

Lin was given a time restriction after missing a game on Wednesday, and after suffering from back tightness following a game on Monday against the Houston Rockets. Prior to the match with the Rockets, Lin had to miss 17 straight games due to a hamstring injury back in November.

Although Lin performed well enough to have his presence felt during the game, his contribution was not enough to ensure the victory of his team.

"We didn't do a good job on the defensive glass and we didn't do a good job keeping them off the free-throw line. Offensive rebounds and easy free throws, it chips away at you and wears you out,'' Lin said, according to the New York Post.

On whether Lin will be returning permanently for the next games to come, Nets coach Kenny Atkinson sounded optimistic.

"Hopefully he'll be back full time now. We can really work on execution, what we want at the end of games," Atkinson said.

According to Newsday, Lin will still have a time restriction for his comeback, playing a stint at the end of each quarter, until he finds his groove again. However, the Nets point guard denied rumors that he won't be performing any better after being sidelined for nearly six weeks.

"If I step on the floor, I have really high expectations," Lin said. "I've been working out and getting in rhythm. Those are shots I know I can hit. I've just got to hit them next time," he went on to say.