Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum entered Game 2 preparation with a different tone after his Game 1 exchange with New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson. What began as a firm dismissal of wrongdoing shifted into a more measured response after review.
Following Atlanta’s 113-102 loss at Madison Square Garden, McCollum initially downplayed the third-quarter play in which his leg struck Brunson while rising for a jumper, per Bleacher Report. “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.”
Officials reviewed the sequence and assessed a technical foul as Brunson remained on the floor. The Knicks guard later kept his response simple, saying, “It wasn’t purposeful so we move forward.”
McCollum Revisits Play After Film Review
By Monday morning, McCollum’s stance evolved. Speaking ahead of Game 2, he acknowledged what he saw upon revisiting the footage, The Post reports.
“I watched the game and there was contact,” McCollum said. “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.”
McCollum still pointed to mechanics within the play, but he no longer disputed that contact occurred. His earlier suggestion that Brunson stayed grounded did not fully align with the replay, which showed Brunson leaving the floor slightly to contest.
That shift led to a clearer admission.
“I hit him,” McCollum said. “It wasn’t on purpose, he knows it. I know Jalen, I know his father. There’s no ill-will. It was a normal jump shot that happened and there was some contact there. It is what it is. We’re moving forward.”
Hawks Shift Focus to Adjustments Ahead of Game 2
Despite the attention around the incident, McCollum emphasized that the result of Game 1 came down to overall performance, not a single moment.
“I’ve been to some Broadway shows,” McCollum added, revisiting his earlier comment. “I love going to shows. We lost the game. We didn’t lose the game because of that play. We lost because we got outplayed.”
McCollum led Atlanta with 26 points on 11-for-20 shooting, including four made three-pointers. Brunson matched up with him frequently, serving as his primary defender across multiple possessions.
Looking ahead, McCollum expects adjustments on both sides as the series continues.
“They won doing what they do,” he said. “So expect more of the same to be honest. But it’s to be determined. There are adjustments that happen before the game and after the game so I’m sure they’ll have some different looks for us on both sides of the ball.”
With Game 2 set at Madison Square Garden, the focus now shifts from the Game 1 moment to how both teams respond. McCollum’s comments reflect that transition, from postgame frustration to a more grounded acknowledgment as the series moves forward.
That context adds another layer to the matchup, as both guards remain central to their teams’ approach. With adjustments coming, their individual battle could continue shaping the tone of the series.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post CJ McCollum Admits Fault in Jalen Brunson Game 1 Incident appeared first on Heavy Sports.