Jalen Brunson has no problem with Chris Paul, even if he ignored the 12-time All-Star’s hand during a tense moment in Thursday’s loss to the Warriors.
Brunson was being hard-packed to the Garden floor by Paul late in the third quarter, but Paul reached out to help the Knicks’ All-Star point guard.
Branson rejected the gesture, but clarified it in a video interview with Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes on Friday.
Win against the Warriors. Jason Suzens, New York Post
“First of all, I have the utmost respect for Chris. I’ve known him since high school and he has a great relationship with my dad,” Brunson said, referring to Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson. did.
“Before the game it’s all love. Before the game I said ‘hello’ to him. After the game he said, “Hello.” But during a match, if you fall, no matter what the situation is, it’s better to have your teammates help you.
“So when he came to pick me up, I was like, ‘Oh, I can’t do it right now.’ And that’s all I said.”
Paul, 38, walked away with his hands up, but Brunson was instead helped by teammate Bojan Bogdanovic. Brunson missed the Knicks’ last game against the Pelicans on Tuesday due to neck spasms.
The Knicks (35-25) will face the in-form Cavaliers on Sunday night in Cleveland. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons on Friday with All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell out with a sore left knee.
Caris LeVert (elbow) was also sidelined for the Cavaliers, who have won 21 of their past 26 games and improved to 39-20 overall. Mitchell and LeVert are listed as questionable for the game against the Knicks.
