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Walton: Nuggets' Murray was once again being disrespectful

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

History repeated itself Friday night, with yet another Los Angeles Lakers-Denver Nuggets meeting at Pepsi Center ending with Jamal Murray getting under the skin of the visitors.

Lakers head coach Luke Walton shouted a number of expletives in Murray's direction after the 21-year-old guard sank free throws late to increase Denver's lead. Walton's ire stemmed from Murray seemingly showboating once again after coming up with a steal to cement the win.

"I felt like for the second time we played here, Murray was being a little disrespectful at the end of the game," said Walton, who didn't elaborate further on what he yelled, according to ESPN Ohm Youngmisuk. "(It was) just some trash-talking toward our guys."

It was back on Dec. 2 when Murray closed out the Nuggets' 115-100 victory by dribbling around Lonzo Ball, who was minding his own business and exiting the floor at the time. Ball's teammate, Julius Randle, took exception to Murray's antics and fouled him.

"We remembered it," added Ball Friday. "It's a punk move. But like I said, we're not going to get into it. (Murray will) do whatever he's going to do."

Murray says his actions following his clutch steal weren't directed at anyone in particular, even though he was looking at Walton at the time, which is why he was so bothered by it.

"I just like competing," Murray said. "You know, we are playing for a playoff spot. We just came off two bad losses and we had to go out there and play with a little fire, and I guess the other team took it to heart. But I can't do anything about that but just keep playing my game and accept the challenges.

"I can't control what the other team's gonna feel. I'm just gonna go out there and hoop, and whoever takes it to heart and takes their losses salty, I can't do anything about that."

Nuggets coach Michael Malone also mentioned that he'd be looking over the game tape, and that he'll have a talk with Murray if he feels the Lakers are justified in their displeasure.

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