Jamal Murray takes “full responsibility” for incident in Game 2

Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray took “full responsibility” for the incident in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals that earned him a $100,000 fine from the NBA.

During the Nuggets’ 106-80 loss to the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, Murray threw a towel and then a heat pack on the floor, seemingly toward a referee. The NBA announced the penalty the next day, waiving a suspension that could have knocked Murray out of Game 3 on Friday in Minneapolis as the Nuggets trailed 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

“I mean, it is what it is and I take full responsibility for everything, so on to the next thing,” Murray said when asked about the league’s response. “Yeah, move on to the next one. I mean, two days ago, I can’t say much about it right now.”

Nuggets coach Michael Malone said of the incident: “I’ve never seen that from Jamal before. That was very out of character for me.

“(It was) a combination of calling and not calling, a combination of him not shooting at the level that he’s capable of, that we know he can do, a combination of us being behind of 30 points on a team we’re trying to beat” to reach the Western Conference finals. When you add all of that to the boiling pot, it’s a lot to handle. He didn’t handle it the way he knows he needs to handle it. …

“Jamal will bounce back. I have no doubt about that.”

Murray sank two crucial last-minute shots in the Nuggets’ five-game win over the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. He averaged 23.6 points, 7.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds in the series.

However, the 27-year-old from Kentucky struggled in the Timberwolves series, averaging 12.5 points, three assists and seven rebounds. In Game 2, Murray made just three of 18 shots from the floor and finished with eight points, 13 rebounds and four turnovers.