Respected NBA analyst Brian Windhorst has explained why he will not be surprised if Jamal Murray gets a suspension.
Minnesota smoked the fancied Denver Nuggets 106-80 to take a 2-0 lead in the conference semifinals, but it was Murray throwing a heating pad on the floor that was a talking point.
Murray was on the bench in the second quarter when he flung a heating pad on the court and if spotted by officials he would have earned a technical foul.
NBA crew chief at the game was Mark Davis and said, “I was the lead official, and I didn"t notice it was on the floor or where it came from until Towns scored.
“We weren"t aware it had come from the bench. If we would have been aware it came from the bench, we could have reviewed it under the hostile act trigger. The penalty would have been a technical foul."
Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch called the act dangerous and inexcusable.
“We tried to impress upon [the referees] there probably aren"t many fans in the building that have a heat pack, so it probably had to come from the bench, which they found logical," Finch said. “I"m sure it was a mistake and an oversight and nothing intentional by the officiating at all, but certainly can"t allow that to happen."
“I will not be shocked," Windhorst said, referring to the league"s stance on perhaps suspending the player for his petulant act.
The last thing the defending NBA champions need is to lose Murray, as they try chase down a 0-2 start against a strong Minnesota outfit.
