NBA fines Jamal Murray of Denver Nuggets for throwing heat pack, towel on court

NBA has fined Denver Nuggets player Jamal Murray $100,000 for throwing a hot pack and a towel onto the court during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. On Tuesday, the NBA issued the fine. Murray will not receive a suspension. 

Jamal Murray threw a hot pack onto the court with 4:45 left in the first half of Minnesota's 106-80 victory in Denver. Denver trailed 37-20 at the time the incident was captured on TNT footage. 

Murray hurled the hot pack from the bench onto the court during Minnesota Timberwolves' offensive set. With the heat pack on the court, Timberwolves player Karl-Anthony Towns collected a rebound and put back a basket, extending Minnesota's advantage.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope of Denver Nuggets was on the floor to play defence. He noticed the pack on the ground, picked it up, and tossed it to the sideline. Murray tossed a towel at official Marc Davis only seconds before tossing the heat pack. Davis didn't notice the towel that dropped behind his feet as he stood on the baseline. 

Officials also overlooked Murray's heat-pack toss at the time. He lacked discipline during the game. In announcing the punishment, NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars criticized Murray for "throwing multiple objects in the direction of a game official during live play."

Jamal Murray has been dealing with a calf issue

He threw the goods on the floor during a rough time for himself and the Nuggets, who are battling against the Timberwolves after winning the NBA title the previous season. Denver was losing at home and behind the Timberwolves 0-2 in the conference playoffs when Murray hurled the things. 

Murray has been dealing with a calf issue and had his worst game of the postseason Monday against a tough Timberwolves defence. He concluded the game with eight points after going 3-for-18 from the field. The series now moves to Minnesota, where the Timberwolves can wrap up the series at home with two more victories.