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Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks chose to maintain their composure and refrained from escalating the situation.
When given the opportunity to respond to CJ McCollum’s claim that Brunson feigned an injury to prompt a technical foul against McCollum, Brunson remained reserved and declined to comment extensively.
“I have no reaction,” Brunson stated following the team’s practice on Sunday. “No comment.”
The incident in question occurred during the second quarter of the Knicks’ 113-102 victory over the Hawks in Game 1 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. McCollum was handed a technical foul for kicking Brunson in the midsection during a jump shot attempt, a play that also resulted in a travel call against him. Brunson lay on the court in apparent pain for a few moments before recovering and continuing the game.
McCollum, however, felt that Brunson exaggerated the impact of the contact.
“I shot a jumper and Jalen thought we were at a Broadway show,” McCollum said after the game. “He acted it out until they reviewed it. It’s a normal jump shot. Nothing there. Unnecessary and I look forward to getting my $2,500 [fine] back.”
Brunson after the game said he didn’t think it was purposeful. On Sunday, coach Mike Brown said he didn’t even see McCollum’s comments.
“A lot of guys are gonna say a lot of things throughout the course of the playoffs,” Brown said. “So whatever people want to say, that’s up to them. But I didn’t see it.”
OG Anunoby (left ankle sprain) is listed as probable for Game 2 on Monday at MSG. He briefly exited after rolling his left ankle in Game 1 — the same one that forced him to exit the penultimate regular-season game.
He practiced Sunday, Brown said.
Onyeka Okongwu (right knee inflammation) is questionable for the Hawks.
Brunson will not repeat as the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year. He was not named one of the three finalists Sunday.
Anunoby was not one of the three finalists for Defensive Player of the Year. Earlier this month, he shared his belief that he should win it, a rare bit of expression from the normally quiet Anunoby.