The NBA has punished Denver Nuggets star guard Jamal Murray for throwing a heat pack and towel onto the floor during Monday’s 106-80 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
The NBA is fining Murray $100,000 for throwing multiple objects in the direction of a game official during live play, according to a statement released by the NBA.
The throwing of the heat pack occurred in the first half with 4:45 remaining in the second quarter. Murray was resting while the Timberwolves held a 37-20 lead. The ball was in play, with the Timberwolves holding possession on the side of the Nuggets’ bench. In the video, Murray stood up from his seat and threw the heat pack on the court. The TNT camera recorded the incident.
Murray threw the pack in the direction of lead official Marc Davis. After the game, Davis spoke to a pool reporter and gave his take on the matter.
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“I was the lead official, and I didn’t notice it was on the floor or where it came from until [Karl-Anthony] Towns scored,” Davis said in the pool report. “We weren’t aware it had come from the bench. If we would have been aware it came from the bench, we could have reviewed it under the hostile act trigger. The penalty would have been a technical foul.”
NBA fans were outraged by Murray’s actions, as it could have hurt someone. Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch wasn’t happy with Murray’s actions, either. Finch spoke to the media after the game and called Murray’s actions “inexcusable and dangerous.”
“I didn’t actually see it happen,” Finch said. “And the way it was explained to me, the referees didn’t see it either. So they’re not able to issue a technical unless they see it. We tried to impress upon them there probably aren’t many fans in the building who have a heat pack, so it probably had to come from the bench. Which they found logical. It’s inexcusable and dangerous. I’m sure it was just a mistake and an oversight. I’m sure there was nothing intentional by the officiating at all. But certainly can’t allow that to happen.”
Murray left the arena on Monday without speaking to the media. The Nuggets trail the series 0-2 and now have to win four of the next five games to advance to the Western Conference Finals. The 27-year-old has been below-par thus far against Minnesota, averaging 12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game on 28.1 percent shooting from the field. He has been nursing a calf injury he suffered against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.
The series will now head to Minnesota, with Game 3 on Friday.
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