Chris Childs said he still holds some bitterness toward Hawks center Dikembe Mutombo.

In a game on April 9 at Atlanta, Mutombo accidentally struck Childs in the mouth, knocking out one of his front teeth. Childs was so upset afterward, that he told reporters he would retaliate against Mutombo in their next meeting.

Childs didn’t follow through on his threat when the Knicks faced the Hawks on April 28. As for now, Childs said he will keep it clean when the they meet tonight in Game 1 of the second round of the playoffs at Atlanta.

Still, Childs is not over the incident.

“It’s still some lingering things mentally that I’m still dealing with,” he said yesterday at Purchase College before the Knicks headed to Atlanta. “He never did apologize.”

In fact, after that game, Mutombo came into the Knicks locker room at the Georgia Dome to speak with his friend Patrick Ewing. He ignored the toothless Childs.

“That’s water under the bridge,” Childs said. “I’m not looking for him at all. He’s too big anyway.

“The only thing that matters now is that we get prepared to go out there and go to war against a good Atlanta team. It’s going to be a good series.”

And Childs, despite his injured right leg, will play.

He was certainly a major factor in the Knicks’ 78-77 victory Sunday in Game 5 at Miami. When the Knicks fell behind 21-8 in the first quarter, it was Childs (seven points) who helped spark the Knicks’ comeback.

He also nailed a big 3-pointer in the fourth quarter as the Knicks made their late push.

But, he admits he’s hurting.

“I’m not as healthy as I would like,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll be as close to 100 percent as possible.”