Warning: Story contains coarse language
Kyrie Irving applauded Jamal Murray on his career-best performance against his Boston Celtics, but he won't let the Denver Nuggets guard off the hook for attempting to run up the score and eclipse the 50-point mark during the dying seconds of Monday's matchup.
Murray chucked up a 3-pointer as time expired which didn't convert, leaving him just short of the milestone with 48 points in 38 minutes of action. The rebound bounced to Irving, who proceeded to hurl the ball into the stands out of frustration.
Jamal Murray really wanted 50 😂 pic.twitter.com/19scaSA6Or
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) November 6, 2018
"I mean, what kind of competitor wouldn't it bother?" Irving said of Murray's shot following Boston's 115-107 loss at Pepsi Center on Monday, via Chris Forsberg of NBC Boston. "I don't want to make a big deal out of it. Obviously, I was pissed off at the game, but it's time to decompress and move on.
"Congratulations to him on his 48 points. He did it in a great fashion against us. Our defense has to be better, especially against a player like that in the pick-and-roll. He was the primary concern tonight. He made us pay in certain instances, making some tough shots and some tough layups. But the ball deserves to go in the crowd after a bullshit move like that."
Murray's 48 points tied an NBA record for the most ever scored by a Canadian. Former Phoenix Suns point guard and two-time league MVP Steve Nash dropped 48 on the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs on May 15, 2005.
Irving finished with 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting, along with five rebounds, five assists, and three steals as Boston fell to 6-4 with a second-straight loss.
The Nuggets improved to 9-1 and will now hit the road to take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
