Irving fined $25K for launching ball into stands after loss to Nuggets
Warning: Story contains coarse language
Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving has been fined $25,000 for throwing the basketball into the stands after his team's road loss to the Denver Nuggets Monday night, the league announced Tuesday.
Irving's consternation followed a prolific night by opposing guard Jamal Murray - specifically, the final play of the game.
With Murray sitting two points shy of his first career 50-point performance, the 21-year-old hoisted a 31-foot shot as time expired in the fourth quarter despite his team boasting an eight-point lead. Murray missed the shot before Irving threw the ball into the stands.
"Congratulations to him on his 48 points," Irving said after the game, according to Chris Forsberg of NBC Boston. "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."