Timberwolves coach has strong reaction to Jamal Murray throwing heat pack

Nov 22, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch in the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch seems to think Jamal Murray should face disciplinary action for the stunt the Denver Nuggets star pulled on Monday night.

The Nuggets melted down in the first half of their eventual loss to the Timberwolves in Game 2 of the second-round playoff series between the two teams. As Minnesota was pulling away in the second quarter, a frustrated Murray threw a heat pack onto the court while he was standing in Denver’s bench area.

The object that Murray threw landed at the feet of players who were in the paint. It actually hit Denver’s Reggie Jackson and then Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns before Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope threw it back toward the bench area. You can see the video here.

After his team won 106-80 to take a 2-0 series lead, Finch called Murray’s outburst “inexcusable and dangerous.”

“I didn’t actually see it happen. The referees didn’t see it either. They’re not able to issue a technical unless they see it,” Finch said. “We tried to impress upon them that there probably aren’t many fans in the building that have a heat pack, so it probably had to come from the bench, which they found logical. But, yeah, it’s inexcusable and dangerous. … I’m sure there was nothing intentional by the officiating at all, but you certainly can’t allow that to happen.”

Coach Finch on Jamal Murray throwing the heat pack pic.twitter.com/Xxsr9hN8G4

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Murray will likely be fined by the NBA at the very least. What he did was dangerous and could have resulted in an injury. Obviously, the Timberwolves would have an even bigger advantage heading into Game 3 if Murray were suspended, which is probably why Finch was not shy in expressing his disgust with Murray’s behavior.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone could also face a fine for the way he berated an official during the first quarter on Monday.