During Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets player Jamal Murray tossed a heat pack onto the court, which escaped the notice of the officiating crew initially.
Prior to that, Murray also threw a towel on the court which went unnoticed initially as well.
In a post-game Pool Report, crew chief Marc Davis acknowledged that had they seen it, Murray would have received a technical foul.
In response, the NBA issued an official statement on Tuesday evening, announcing a $100,000 fine for Murray’s actions.
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The league emphasized the importance of respecting game integrity and player safety in its statement.
Jamal Murray will be fined $100k for throwing a heat pad and towel on the court during Game 2 vs. Minnesota, per @ShamsCharania No suspension.
“Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray has been fined $100,000 for throwing multiple objects in the direction of a game official during live play, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. Murray’s actions took place during the Nuggets’ 106-80 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of their conference semifinals playoff series on May 6 at Ball Arena.”
The NBA’s decision not to suspend Murray despite the significant fine has sparked controversy.
Some argue that his actions warranted a suspension, but the league opted for the hefty fine instead.
Despite playing through a calf injury, Murray will be eligible for Game 3 as the Nuggets aim to avoid a daunting 3-0 deficit against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Murray has had two very down games in his first two games of the series shooting a combined 9-for-32.
