The playoff pressure cooker just erupted in Jamal Murray’s face in an ugly way. The NBA struck back at the Denver Nuggets’ star guard with a jaw-dropping $100,000 fine after he went rogue and started chucking objects onto the court in a bizarre outburst during Monday night’s beatdown against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But despite Murray’s meltdown reaching scary levels of recklessness, he somehow avoided a suspension.
With his Nuggets already getting their clocks cleaned and trailing the Timberwolves 37-20 late in the first half, the typically cool-headed Murray just snapped. In one baffling sequence, he lobbed a heat pack from the Denver bench and sent it sailing right toward the action on the floor as Minnesota had the ball. The foreign object landed dangerously close to players as they jostled for a rebound.
But Murray was just getting warmed up with his unhinged behavior. Mere seconds earlier, he had flung a towel in the direction of referee Marc Davis, with the towel landing just inches from Davis’ feet as he stood on the baseline. Incredibly, neither Murray’s heat pack heave nor his towel toss registered with the officials as the pandemonium unfolded right before their eyes.
When the dust settled, the NBA’s disciplinary crew led by VP Joe Dumars didn’t take too kindly to Murray’s wild antics, blasting him with a hefty fine for his “throwing multiple objects in the direction of a game official during live play.” A’s hefty as the $100,000 penalty was, Murray avoided a suspension that would have been a brutal blow to Denver’s fading title defense.
On the other side, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch was left visibly disgusted and dumbfounded by Murray’s lack of self-control, calling his actions “inexcusable and dangerous” and questioning how he avoided being whistled for a technical on the spot.
“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,” Finch fumed.
At the center of the raging storm was Murray himself, struggling mightily while playing through a nagging calf injury. He had plummeted to a new postseason low against Minnesota’s swarming defense, mustering just 8 measly points on a horrific 3-of-18 shooting night from the field. As his shot completely abandoned him, Murray’s usual unflappable poise went right along with it in shocking fashion.
With their championship reign already teetering, the Nuggets now find themselves in an 0-2 series hole as the action shifts to hostile territory in Minnesota. The feisty Timberwolves have a prime opportunity to bury the champs and wrap up the series on their rowdy home floor. If Denver has any hopes of clawing back, they’ll need a rehabilitated Murray to rapidly regain his form and reservoir of self-control.
For now, Murray will just have to stomach the $100,000 chunk taken out of his wallet and use it as searing motivation. One self-inflicted implosion has already dealt the Nuggets’ repeat bid critical damage. Any more lapses like his bizarre Game 2 meltdown could soon bring Denver’s title reign crashing down in epic fashion.
