Nuggets star Jamal Murray fined $25,000 for low blow

The NBA fined Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray $25,000 for Monday’s low blow against Dallas Mavericks guard Tim Hardaway Jr.

The fine was announced Wednesday, January 27 (Thursday, January 28, Philippine time) by NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe.

Murray struck Hardaway in the groin area with 4:51 remaining in the 3rd quarter of the Nuggets’ 117-113 win in Dallas.

Murray, 23, was assessed a flagrant foul 2 and ejected, finishing with 16 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 25 minutes.

Hours after being issued a fine, Murray helped the Nuggets score a 109-82 win over the host Miami Heat as one of 6 Denver players who finished in double figures.

Nikola Jokic, who leads the NBA in double-doubles, had 21 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Nuggets.

Denver outscored the Heat 50-28 in the paint, and the Nuggets held Miami to 37.5% shooting.

Jokic, who has a double-double in each of Denver’s 18 games this season, led the Nuggets to their fifth straight win.

Denver also got a double-double from Jamychal Green (15 points, 10 rebounds). Michael Porter Jr, who joined Green as a reserve, added 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals.

Miami, led by Bam Adebayo’s 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, lost its fourth straight game.

The Heat also got 17 points from Kendrick Nunn, who made his first start of the season.

However, the shorthanded Heat were without 3 key players: five-time All-Star Jimmy Butler (COVID protocol), second-leading scorer Tyler Herro (neck) and 2018 All-Star Goran Dragic (groin). 

It was the third game missed this season by Dragic, while Butler (9 straight) and Herro (7) have endured long-term absences.

Among Heat role players, Meyers Leonard (shoulder) remains out, but Avery Bradley (COVID protocol) returned for his first action since January 9. He scored 8 t points.

The Nuggets were without PJ Dozier (hamstring). – Rappler.com