It was a day off for the New York Knicks in more ways than one.

The Knicks were almost entirely-snubbed from the list of nominees/finalists for the NBA’s major individual awards, which were revealed during national television coverage of Sunday’s first round playoff action. Jalen Brunson did get a nod in the extended ballot for the Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year title but New York was completely snubbed otherwise.

Sunday was a day of rest for the Knicks, who open the work week with Game 2 of their own opening series against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night in Manhattan (8 p.m. ET, NBC). New York leads the best-of-seven set by one after taking the opener by a 113-102 final on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Perhaps most glaring from a Knicks perspective is the lack of Defensive Player of the Year nomination for OG Anunoby. Several Knicks lobbied for the two-way talent’s candidacy for his effort in the 53-win campaign but he was snubbed in favor of Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City), Ausar Thompson (Detroit), and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio).

Brunson will also be unable to protect his Clutch Player of the Year honor, with Anthony Edwards (Minnesota), Jamal Murray (Denver), and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City) going for the second edition of the award. Gilgeous-Alexander will get a chance to reprise his role, as he’s one of the MVP finalists alongside Wembanyama and fellow repeat hopeful Nikola Jokic (Denver).

As if the national snubs weren’t fueling enough, the Knicks may be further inspired to take things personally after CJ McCollum took a verbal jab at the captain Brunson.

During the Game 1 opener, McCollum was charged with a technical foul when he raised his leg into Brunson’s groin on a jump shot’s follow-through in the second half. McCollum seemed perplexed that he was charged with a T and indirectly accused Brunson of embellishing the aftermath to get a call.

“I shot a jumper and Jalen thought we were at a Broadway show,” McCollum said, per Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today. “He acted it out until they reviewed it. It’s a normal jump shot, nothing there. Unnecessary, and I look forward to getting my ($2,000 technical fine) back.”

Brunson, for his part, isn’t adding fuel to the fire, stating only that he had “no comment” about McCollum’s comments according Jared Schwartz of the New York Post. Knicks fans, however, likely won’t be so forgiving, especially considering the vitriol they still hold for since-departed Atlanta franchise face Trae Young.

Brunson and McCollum were their teams’ respective leading scorers in Saturday’s game and their backcourt battle should go a long way in deciding the series. Faced with at least one more game at MSG in this series, Brunson’s army of 18,000-plus will probably be more than happy to do the talking for him.