The Denver Nuggets looked like they were ripe for a bounce-back game after the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated them at home, 106-99, to start off what should be a very competitive second-round matchup between division rivals. After all, the Timberwolves were without Rudy Gobert, and Gobert was instrumental in slowing down the Nuggets' high-powered offense. Instead, Game 2 was a contest straight out of the Nuggets' nightmares, with Jamal Murray perhaps enduring the worst night of his professional career in a 106-80 loss to the Timberwolves.

Now, Murray has had worse shooting games than the one he put up on Monday; he shot 3-18 and finished with eight points, but credit goes to the Timberwolves defense for slowing the roll of someone who has emerged as one of the best playoff performers in recent years. What was extra bad about the Nuggets guard's Monday night was the extracurriculars; he threw a towel along the baseline in the second quarter and then launched a heat pack towards the court in what some classified as a dangerous play.

And then after the Timberwolves' trouncing of the Nuggets, it seemed like Jamal Murray's frustrations hit boiling point. Now, he didn't throw any other projectiles. Instead, he dodged his media responsibilities, with Dave McMenamin of ESPN confirming that Murray, indeed, left Ball Arena on Monday without speaking to reporters.

Murray has been a fan favorite for his penchant for stepping up whenever he plays under the bright lights of the playoffs. However, the tide seems to be turning when it comes to fans' perception of him. The Nuggets star caught some flak for his decisions on Monday night, which further compounded all the criticism he received for putting up such a putrid outing against the Timberwolves in Game 2.

“I guess that’s what happens when you go 3-18 from the field and throw a heat pack at a referee,” one fan wrote. Wrote another, “That's karma. Acting hard when he plays the Lakers but when they give him an L dude acts like a clown. Like Luka said everyone acts tough when they're up. Murray soft.”

Some fans even went as far as to compare Jamal Murray to a fellow Canadian in Dillon Brooks. As one would recall, Brooks dodged his media responsibilities as well after his Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs.

“Feels like Dillion Brooks 2.0😂😂😂,” wrote a fan. One fan wasn't too hopeful about the Nuggets' chances of bouncing back, writing, “And that’s the death punch to the Nuggets season. Jamal Murray is way too good and old to act like Dillon Brooks.”

Suffice to say, things are not looking good for Murray and the Nuggets. At this point, it's unclear if Murray will face repercussions for his heat pack throw, but one would think that throwing anything onto the court while the game is going on warrants a punishment from the association.

The Nuggets need Jamal Murray on the court for Game 3

The Nuggets' backs are against the wall; there is a chance that Jamal Murray will incur a suspension for his heat pack throw, making their odds of a comeback in their second-round matchup against the Timberwolves even slimmer. Reggie Jackson exited Game 2 with what the TNT crew reported as a calf injury, which means that the Nuggets' options at the point will be dire if Murray cannot be on the floor on Friday night.

There's no arguing that Murray has been bad thus far in this series. The Timberwolves are out of blood, so the Nuggets cannot afford slow starts anymore; their opponent, after all, is no longer the Lakers. But Murray has been ice cold in first halves of games, and on Monday night, what flared was his temper as he became petulant, as evidenced by some of his actions.

Nonetheless, the Nuggets stand little chance without Murray. The Ewing Theory cannot be in play; the Nuggets have shaky depth, with Cristian Braun and Peyton Watson yet to make a dent in this series. Michael Porter Jr. could assume a larger offensive role, but his non-existent playmaking makes him that much easier to defend. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope isn't a volume scorer, while Aaron Gordon is someone the Timberwolves are content with leaving open, as seen in their gameplan over the first two games of the series.

Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are already up against a Timberwolves defense that is as suffocating as any in recent memory. Losing Murray is as close to a death knell as there is, and Murray didn't help matters at all by putting himself in a situation where he could draw a suspension from the league.