Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray had the best game of his career against the Boston Celtics on Monday night, scoring 48 points and leading the Nuggets to a 115-107 victory. Once Boston’s defeat was ensured, with the clock winding down, Murray threw up a long 3-pointer in an attempt to extend his new career-high and eclipse 50 points. Such a move is generally frowned upon in the NBA, considered a sign of disrespect toward the opposing team. Boston Celtics star Kyrie Irving didn’t take kindly to Murray’s unnecessary 3-point attempt and threw the ball into the stands in anger. Irving has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for his actions, the league announced Tuesday in a press release:
Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving has been fined $25,000 for throwing the basketball into the spectator stands, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
Here are Irving’s post-game comments directly after he threw the ball:
Kyrie Irving admits he was bothered by Jamal Murray’s late shot for 50 (called it a “bullshit move”). But stressed he didn’t want to make a big deal of it and praised Murray’s performance overall. pic.twitter.com/avJyodr7dS
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) November 6, 2018
After Murray, Irving had the best game of anyone in that Celtics-Nuggets game, scoring a season-high 31 points on 13-17 shooting. He also compiled five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
