Chris Finch called Murray's actions 'inexcusable' and 'dangerous'.
No technical or ejection was issued initially, but league discipline may be imposed posthumously.
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray threw a heating pad at Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns during Game 2.
The incident occurred in the second quarter of the Timberwolves' 106-80 victory over the Nuggets.
The league has not yet announced any further disciplinary measures against Murray.
In a dramatic turn of events during the second quarter of the Timberwolves' 106-80 victory over the Nuggets in Game 2, an unexpected incident occurred. Nuggets guard Jamal Murray hurled a heating pad from the bench area towards Karl-Anthony Towns as he attempted to secure an offensive rebound. Despite officials not witnessing the act at the time, video evidence later surfaced revealing Murray's actions. While no technical or ejection was issued initially, league discipline may be imposed posthumously.
Chris Finch, Wolves coach, described Murray's actions as 'inexcusable' and 'dangerous.' Referee Marc Davis stated that if officials had known the heating pad came from the bench, they could have reviewed it as a 'hostile act.' However, this would only have resulted in a technical foul rather than an ejection. Kyle Anderson, who was on the floor at the time of the incident, claimed he was unaware of it until after the game.
Karl-Anthony Towns expressed concern over the incident while discussing it post-game, stating that his primary focus was on making a layup. The league has not yet announced any further disciplinary measures against Murray. With a three-day break between Games 2 and 3, there is no immediate timeline for the league's decision.
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray threw a heating pad on the floor during Denver’s Game 2 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Murray should have been called for a technical foul but was not ejected from the game.
Accuracy
Referee Marc Davis stated that if officials had known it came from the bench, they could have reviewed it as a ‘hostile act’
Murray threw a heat pack towards an official which should result in a fine or suspension, according to Chris Finch.
Deception
(30%)
The author, Dave McMenamin, is reporting on an incident where Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets threw a heating pad onto the court during a live game. The referees did not call a technical foul for this action. The author quotes Marc Davis, the crew chief, explaining that they were not aware that the heating pad came from the bench and therefore could not review it under their rules for hostile acts. However, Davis also states that if they had been aware it came from the bench, a technical foul would have been issued. This is an example of selective reporting as the author only reports details that support his position (that Murray should have received a technical foul) and ignores the fact that the referees did not notice where the heating pad came from until after Towns scored. The author also quotes Chris Finch, Minnesota's coach, who calls Murray's action 'dangerous' and 'inexcusable', but these are opinions and not facts.
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.
With Murray on the bench and Karl-Anthony Towns receiving a pass from Kyle Anderson to put Minnesota up 49-30 with 4:41 remaining in the second quarter, the Nuggets point guard tossed the pad on the floor while live game action ensued.
The penalty would have been a technical foul.
Fallacies
(90%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies and an appeal to authority. The author quotes crew chief Marc Davis saying that Murray should have been called for a technical foul -- but not ejected -- for throwing a heating pad on the floor during the game. This is used as evidence of the incorrect call, implying that there was indeed a rule broken. Additionally, Dave McMenamin, being an ESPN staff writer and close Lakers and NBA reporter, appeals to his own authority when discussing the situation. However, no formal fallacies were found in the article.
]Jamal Murray throws a heat pack on the floor from the bench[
During Game 2 between the Timberwolves and Nuggets, a heating pad was thrown from the Nuggets bench area towards Karl-Anthony Towns during an offensive rebound.
Officials did not see Murray throw the heating pad and no technical or ejection was issued at the time.
Chris Finch, Wolves coach, called Murray’s actions ‘inexcusable’ and ‘dangerous''
Referee Marc Davis stated that if officials had known it came from the bench, they could have reviewed it as a ‘hostile act''
Murray should have been called for a technical foul but was not ejected from the game.
Accuracy
]During Game 2 between the Timberwolves and Nuggets, a heating pad was thrown from the Nuggets bench area towards Karl-Anthony Towns during an offensive rebound.[
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray threw a heating pad on the floor during Denver’s Game 2 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves were better without Rudy Gobert in Game 2.
Michael Malone described the Nuggets’ performance as ‘embarrassing’ and ‘a diaper game.’
Karl-Anthony Towns ran through Jamal Murray and Anthony Edwards bullied his way to a hanging layup over Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the first quarter.
The Nuggets trailed by 22-17 after the first quarter.
Nikola Jokic passed too much and Jamal Murray lacked explosiveness in the first half, combining to miss 18 of 31 shots.
Accuracy
The Nuggets lost to the Timberwolves 106-80 in Game 2.
Jamal Murray had two points at halftime and did not speak to the media afterwards.
Deception
(35%)
The author uses emotional manipulation by referring to the Nuggets' performance as 'a diaper', 'drunken words', and 'embarrassment'. He also uses sensationalism by implying that the Nuggets are in big trouble and have a boxer's heavy arms and tired legs. The author selectively reports details, such as only mentioning the number of shots made by both teams in the first half without providing context about turnovers or assists.
Let’s hit skip on the diss tracks and talk of a Nuggets dynasty. Those drunken words at the downtown parade seem like a long time ago.
The crowd reacted. Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson and DeAndre Jordan held him back. Amazingly, Malone did not receive a technical.
The Nuggets need a warm bottle of milk, a nap and a few hours in timeout because they are in big trouble.
They have not matched Minnesota’s intensity or physicality. There were calls that were mind-numbingly bad. No question. But you don’t trail by 32 points in the third quarter because of the refs.
Fallacies
(75%)
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to emotion throughout the article. He makes several dichotomous depictions of the Nuggets and Timberwolves, portraying the Timberwolves as superior and the Nuggets as inferior. For example, he describes the Timberwolves' performance as 'lit' and their wins as 'thrashing', while describing the Nuggets' performance as a 'diaper', an embarrassment, and a team that is unraveling. He also uses derogatory terms to describe Nuggets players such as 'A-Fraud' for A-Rod and 'MVP!' for Edwards. The author also makes several appeals to authority by quoting Michael Malone's statements about the game and the referees, but these do not constitute logical fallacies on their own.
]The Nuggets delivered a performance that belonged in a diaper[
They kicked our (butts)
The crowd reacted. Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson and DeAndre Jordan held him back. Amazingly, Malone did not receive a technical.
Teams that lose the first two games at home are 5-36 all-time in a seven-game series.
One man walked by section 144 and screamed to no one in particular, 'I can’t believe I paid for this.'
Bias
(15%)
The author uses derogatory language towards the Nuggets and their performance in the article multiple times, demonstrating a clear bias against them.
Oh Baby! The Timberwolves were better without Rudy. Let’s hit skip on the diss tracks and talk of a Nuggets dynasty. Those drunken words at the downtown parade seem like a long time ago.
The crowd reacted. Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson and DeAndre Jordan held him back. Amazingly, Malone did not receive a technical.
The Nuggets are unraveling. They now face odds of winning usually associated with the Rockies.
There is no crying in baseball. But basketball? Oh, baby! The Nuggets need a warm bottle of milk, a nap and a few hours in timeout because they are in big trouble.
