The NBA has fined Jamal Murray $100,000 for throwing multiple items in the direction of an official during live play in Game 2 of a playoff series between the Nuggets and Timberwolves, the league announced Tuesday.
Murray avoided a suspension after the league reviewed the incident Tuesday, sources told The Denver Post. He will be eligible to play Friday in Game 3 of the second-round series. The Nuggets trail 2-0.
Murray was seated at the end of the home bench during the second quarter when he threw what appeared to be a heat pack in the direction of lead official Marc Davis. The item flew past Davis on the baseline and landed in play, near the feet of Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson. Murray had been frustrated with officiating throughout the first half of what turned out to be a 106-80 loss, and Nuggets coach Michael Malone conceded afterward, “We lost control of our emotions.”
Davis was not aware the item came from Denver’s bench, he said in a pool report interview, otherwise the officials could have reviewed the incident under the NBA’s “hostile act trigger.” A review would have resulted in a technical foul but not an ejection.
“For an ejection, you would have to determine it was thrown directly at somebody versus thrown in frustration,” Davis said.
However, the NBA’s news release indicated that Murray did throw the heating pack at the official rather than simply onto the court. The release also referred to “multiple objects,” including a towel that Murray also threw in the direction of Davis earlier in the same possession. Davis didn’t appear to notice the towel, which was pulled back by an individual on the baseline as play continued.
Murray scored eight points in Game 2, shooting 3 for 18 with just two assists and four turnovers. He has been dealing with a left calf injury since Game 4 of the Nuggets’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers, though he made game-winning shots twice in the series.
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