Jalen Brunson and the Knicks took the excessive street and opted towards including extra gasoline to the hearth.
Given an opportunity to react to CJ McCollum’s accusation that Brunson faked an harm with a purpose to get him a technical foul, Brunson was tight-lipped.
“I’ve no response,” Brunson mentioned after apply Sunday. “No remark.”
In the course of the second quarter of the Knicks’ 113-102 Recreation 1 win over the Hawks on Saturday night time at Madison Sq. Backyard, McCollum obtained a technical for kicking Brunson within the midsection whereas taking a leap shot. (He was additionally known as for a journey on the play.) Brunson stayed down on the bottom in ache for a couple of moments earlier than getting again to his toes.
McCollum believed Brunson milked it.
“I shot a jumper and Jalen thought we had been at a Broadway present,” McCollum mentioned after the sport. “He acted it out till they reviewed it. It’s a standard leap shot. Nothing there. Pointless and I stay up for getting my $2,500 [fine] again.”
Brunson after the sport mentioned he didn’t suppose it was purposeful. On Sunday, coach Mike Brown mentioned he didn’t even see McCollum’s feedback.
“Quite a lot of guys are gonna say plenty of issues all through the course of the playoffs,” Brown mentioned. “So no matter individuals need to say, that’s as much as them. However I didn’t see it.”
OG Anunoby (left ankle sprain) is listed as possible for Recreation 2 on Monday at MSG. He briefly exited after rolling his left ankle in Recreation 1 — the identical one which pressured him to exit the penultimate regular-season sport.
He practiced Sunday, Brown mentioned.
Onyeka Okongwu (proper knee irritation) is questionable for the Hawks.
Brunson is not going to repeat because the NBA’s Clutch Participant of the 12 months. He was not named one of many three finalists Sunday.
Anunoby was not one of many three finalists for Defensive Participant of the 12 months. Earlier this month, he shared his perception that he ought to win it, a uncommon little bit of expression from the usually quiet Anunoby.
