Jamal Murray appears to be getting off with just a slap on the wrist.
The NBA announced on Tuesday that it has fined the Denver Nuggets star guard Murray $100,000 over his throwing incidents during the Nuggets’ Game 2 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. Murray will ultimately not be suspended for his actions however.
The following was released by the NBA: pic.twitter.com/MlbHrJ3qtQ
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 7, 2024
Murray lost his cool during the Nuggets’ blowout loss to the Wolves at home in Game 2. In the midst of a wretched 3-for-18 shooting performance, a frustrated Murray threw a heat pack from the bench area onto the floor during live play, making contact with multiple players (see the video here). A viral clip later showed that Murray also threw a towel from the bench in the direction of a referee who had his back turned at the time.
While $100,000 is indeed a significant fine, it probably won’t sting very much as Murray is making $33.8 million this season. A suspension, which may have been justified under the circumstances, would have hurt much more for Murray, whose Nuggets are now down 0-2 in the series as it shifts over to Minnesota. Denver should consider themselves very lucky and will now look to bounce back with Murray in the lineup for Friday’s Game 3.
