Nuggets’ Jamal Miuray fined $100,000 for throwing heat pack in Game 2

DENVER — The NBA fined Nuggets guard Jamal Murray $100,000 — but did not suspend him — for throwing several objects on the floor during the Timberwolves’ Game 2 victory Monday night.

During the second quarter, a white object came flying onto the floor as the Wolves attempted to recover an offensive rebound. The possession ended with Karl-Anthony Towns getting a rebound to put the Wolves ahead 49-30.

Shortly after, a video circulated on the Internet of Murray throwing a heating pad from the bench onto the floor near where Towns was fighting to score. Officials at the time did not see Murray throw the ball and did not issue a technical or ejection. Also during the match, Murray threw a towel at an official.

Wolves coach Chris Finch said Murray’s throwing of the heating pad was “inexcusable” and “dangerous,” and while he didn’t see it live, he said there was had a dialogue between the team and the referees about the play.

“When it was explained to me, the referees didn’t see it either, so they can’t make a technical ruling unless they see it,” Finch said. “We tried to make them understand that there probably aren’t many fans in the building that have a heater pack, so it probably had to be coming from the bench, which they thought made sense.

“It’s inexcusable and dangerous. … I’m sure there was nothing intentional on the part of the officials. I certainly can’t allow this to happen.”

Referee Marc Davis told a pool reporter after the game that if the officials had known it came from the bench, they might have considered the play a “hostile act.” Potentially foreshadowing that there would be no league suspension, Davis said the ruling would have simply been a technical foul and not an ejection.

“For an ejection, you would have to determine that it was thrown directly at someone rather than out of frustration,” Davis said.

Kyle Anderson, who was on the field at the time, said he didn’t even notice it at the time and didn’t realize what happened until after the game.

“I didn’t even see him,” Anderson said. “It’s hilarious.”

The pad stopped moving near Towns’ feet as he prepared for a layup.

“I saw it,” Towns said. “I was just scared to make the layup, I’m not going to lie to you.”