NBA fines Irving $25K for throwing ball in stands

The incident occurred after Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, sitting on a
career-high 48 points with the game already decided, took a 3-pointer at the
final buzzer in an attempt to reach the 50-point mark. Irked by Murray's move,
Irving grabbed the ball and air mailed it into the stands at Denver's Pepsi
Center.

"I mean, what kind of competitor wouldn't it bother?" Irving said to reporters
following the game. "I understand if we fouled him, going to the free throw
line.

"I don't want to make a big deal out of it. Obviously, I was pissed at the
game, but it's time to decompress and move on. Congratulations to him having
48 points. He did it in a great fashion against us. ... But the ball deserves
to go in the crowd after a bulls--- move like that. So, I threw it in the
crowd."

Responded Murray, "I didn't mean no harm. I shouldn't have done it, but they
understand I was trying to get 50."

The Celtics, who have lost their last two games, play again Thursday at
Phoenix.

--Field Level Media