Jamal Murray vented his frustrations in the second quarter of Game 2 between the Timberwolves and the Nuggets on Monday night.
With a possible 0-2 hole in the Western Conference semifinals and already trailing by 17 points with less than five minutes left in the first half, the referee called for Karl-Anthony Towns to try to extend the game with a floater. It seemed like I missed a potential travel call before. T-Wolves lead by 19 points.
In the end, the Timberwolves won the game 106-80, with Murray scoring only eight points.
The shot didn’t fall, but Minnesota collected its own rebound, and Towns finally made a layup to make it 49-30, at the same time an object was seen flying onto the court.
As Denver tried to inbound the ball, the referee seemed to flinch when what eventually turned out to be a heat pack zipped past and a Nuggets player quickly moved it off the court.
The referee paused play, and TNT broadcaster Reggie Miller immediately identified Murray as the culprit who sent the heat pack onto the court.
Murray appeared to be standing up and angrily waving his hands against a no-move call on Towns as his arms shot forward and the heat pack flew toward the game’s action.
It was less clear whether Murray intended to launch the object onto the playing surface.
Murray was unable to answer questions about the incident, but when he left the arena before reporters spoke to him.
