CJ McCollum didn’t get his wish, but he backtracked a bit.
After suggesting that Jalen Brunson faked an injury in order to get him a technical foul during the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Hawks Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, McCollum’s tone has changed.
“I watched the game and there was contact,” McCollum told The Post at Hawks shootaround Monday morning ahead of Game 2 at MSG. “But I have a natural fade in my jump shot. And when you don’t jump when you’re guarding somebody, if you don’t jump, there’s a chance you’re gonna get hit. If he would’ve jumped, he wouldn’t have been hit. But since he’s just kind of standing there, it is what it is. I’m sure he’s not worried about that right now. I’m sure he had a good night of recovery and treatment and looking forward to the game just as we are.”
During the second quarter of Game 1, McCollum received a technical for kicking Brunson in the midsection while taking a jump shot. (He was also called for a travel on the play.) Brunson stayed down on the ground in pain for a few moments while the play was reviewed before getting back to his feet.