Kofi Inkoom
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets has been fined $100,000 by the NBA for tossing a heat pad and towel onto the court toward an official during Monday night’s game, although he managed to avoid suspension.
The incident occurred during the Nuggets’ playoff loss on Monday night, when Murray, seated at the far end of the Denver bench, threw the object onto the court with about 4:40 left in the second quarter as Karl-Anthony Towns of the Timberwolves drove for a layup.
Jamal Murray threw a towel onto the court 15 seconds before throwing the heat pack late in the 2nd quarter of Nuggets-Timberwolves 👀pic.twitter.com/RcU8c57aIe https://t.co/bmBqpKjhu1
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 7, 2024
Despite Murray’s unsportsmanlike act, the Timberwolves defeated the defending champion Nuggets 106-80, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the conference semifinals. Murray left the dressing room before reporters could question him about the incident.
During the game, both Towns and Denver’s Reggie Jackson were at risk of stepping on the heat pack before Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope spotted it and removed it.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch condemned Murray’s actions, calling them “inexcusable and dangerous.” Finch added, “I’m sure it was just a mistake and an oversight (by officials),… But certainly we can’t allow that to happen.”
Murray, who only managed to score 8 points while shooting 3-of-18, has been struggling with a calf injury throughout the playoffs.