Kyrie Irving Slams Jamal Murray, Fined $25K For Throwing The Ball

Kyrie Irving was not a happy camper after the Boston Celtics’ 115-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. But his ire was not due to their loss but for the actions of Jamal Murray in the dying seconds of the game.

The Nuggets guard had a night to remember at the Pepsi Arena after recording a career high 48 points to lead them to their ninth win of the season, but with seconds remaining and the game already in the bag, Murray decided to go for a three-pointer, which did not sit well with the Celtics team, mainly Irving.

The Celtics point guard showed his disappointment by flinging the ball into the second tier of the stands, which earned Irving a $25,000 fine. He made it clear after the game that Murray disrespected his opponents by going for the shot.

"From a competition and competitive standpoint, I think it absolutely deserved to go in the stands still," Irving said after the game, as quoted on ESPN.

"You just don't play basketball like that,” he added. "It's as simple as that. You just don't. There's a tradition and a respect within the league, as well as in any basketball game. Obviously you've won the game, you have it sealed, you've had a great game, game of your life, and you do something like that, it's just ... it's petty. It's immature. We'll see him again though."

The five-time All Star did praise the Nuggets youngster for his impressive game and admitted that the Celtics defense did not have an answer for his game on the night. But he was not happy with his final attempt and labeled it a “bulls--- move” and revealed the ball deserved to go into the stands.

Murray, however, was not too concerned by Irving’s displeasure and defended his actions. He was quick to ensure that he did not mean any disrespect to his opponents and revealed that he was simply trying to get to 50 points after already having scored 48 to lead the Nuggets to their sixth straight home win of the new season.

"That was just a fun game. I was having a lot of fun. I think my emotion took over, as it normally does when I get going like that," Murray said as quoted on CBS Sports. "No disrespect to the Boston organization, the Boston fans for that last shot. I just had it in my mind I was going for 50.”

"I think everybody understood that's what I was trying to do. I really didn't mean no disrespect. I know half the team over there, so no hard feelings. It was just a fun game and my emotions took over,” the Nuggets guard added.

The Celtics, meanwhile, have now lost four of their opening 10 games of the season and next travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns on Thursday night.