DENVER — The NBA fined Nuggets guard Jamaal Murray $100,000 — but did not suspend him — for throwing multiple objects on the floor during Monday night’s Game 2 win over the Timberwolves.
During the second quarter, as the Wolves attempted to return the offensive line, a white object flew to the ground. The possession ended with Karl-Anthony Towns getting another layup to put the Wolves up 49-30.
Moments later, a video of Murray throwing a heating pad from the bench to the floor near where Downs was struggling to score went viral. Officials did not see Murray throw it at the time and did not issue a technical or ejection. And Murray threw a towel at an official during the game.
Wolves coach Chris Finch said Murray’s throwing of the heating pad was “inexcusable” and “dangerous”, and although he did not see it live, he said there was a conversation between the team and the referees about the play.
“When it was explained to me, the referees hadn’t seen it either, so we couldn’t release the technology until they saw it,” Finch said. “We tried to impress upon them that there aren’t too many fans in the building with the heat pack, so they should come off the bench which is logical.
“It’s inexcusable and dangerous. … I believe there was nothing intentional by being an officer. Certainly that cannot be allowed to happen.”
Referee Mark Davis told a pool reporter after the game that if the officials had known it came from the bench, they might have reviewed the play as “hostile action.” In predicting there would be no suspension from the league, Davis said the ruling would have been a technical foul and not an ejection.
“For an ejection, you have to determine if it was thrown directly at someone, rather than out of desperation,” Davis said.
Kyle Anderson, who was on the floor at the time, said he didn’t even notice it at the time and didn’t know it happened until after the game.
“I don’t see it,” Anderson said. “That’s very funny.”
The pad stopped moving near Towns’ feet as he went up for the layup.
“I saw,” Downs said. “I was worried about the layup, not going to lie to you.”
