Jamal Murray avoided suspension but the Timberwolves defense is still plenty punishing
Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win's basketball newsletter. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here's Robert Zeglinski.
It's impossible to know where Jamal Murray's head is at this moment.
After an abysmal Game 2 in which an injured Murray shot 16 percent from the field and had an emotional outburst toward the referees, a suspension for the Denver Nuggets star seemed likely.
Instead, he has to venture back into the hellscape that enraged him past a boiling point in the first place -- the teeth of the incredible Minnesota Timberwolves defense.
On Tuesday night, the NBA revealed that Murray would be fined $100,000 for dangerously throwing various objects in the direction of referee Mark Davis. In all honesty, Murray probably deserved to miss at least a game, but it feels like the NBA punished the process more than the result (no one got hurt).
Given the way Murray has fared against the Timberwolves so far, his playing in Game 3 on Friday night in Minneapolis is probably still plenty punishment enough:
Through two games against Minnesota, Murray is shooting just 9-of-34 from the field. He has only six assists and has turned the ball over five times. Some of those atrocious numbers are somewhat misleading because Murray has had trouble initiating the Denver offense against Minnesota's relentless on-ball pressure. (Paging Nikola Jokic!).
If Murray had the opportunity to actually get more free and more shots up, the sample size suggests he wouldn't be playing all that much better anyway.
Murray does deserve credit for trying to play through a calf strain when his team needs him. His heroic 32-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the first round came after Nuggets team doctors advised him not to play. But it's becoming apparent that a combination of that injury, which is potentially worsening, and the Timberwolves' elite defense has Murray incensed and frustrated over his poor play.
If Murray had been suspended for Game 3, he would've had two more days to rest his calf, with the possibility of looking a lot crisper in Sunday's Game 4. It could've been a small blessing for Murray even if Denver fell into a disastrous 3-0 series hole. Instead, with the reigning champions' season likely teetering in the balance, a less-than-100-percent Murray has to once again venture into the belly of the beast against a shark-like Minnesota team that knows he's hurt and smells blood in the water.
The NBA definitely didn't intend it this way, but it's hard not to read that as a punishment in itself.
New mock draft just dropped
If you're like me, Tuesday's NHL Draft Lottery had you wondering when the NBA Draft lottery is. Because we all know it's coming up, but it's that one event on the calendar that's easy to forget in the thick of the playoffs. Especially when there isn't one top prospect for everyone to get excited about.
The answer is this weekend. The NBA Draft Lottery is Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, just before the tip of Game 4 between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers.
As for who the winner of the lottery might take at the top of June's draft, that answer is much less certain. Thankfully, FTW's Bryan Kalbrosky is really good with his draft analysis and has a brand new mock available to give you a good idea of the players we can expect off the board first. And a new name cracked the top three of his NBA Mock Draft 6.0: UConn's Stephon Castle.
"The Hornets had a shake-up in their front office and will have a new coach next season. After finishing with the worst defense in the Eastern Conference this season, UConn’s do-it-all freshman Stephon Castle could provide tremendous help.
The national champion and Big East Freshman of the Year allowed 0.69 defensive points per chance, via Stats Perform, which was the second-best of any player included on the latest consensus big board."
That's a big jump for Castle from No. 9 on the previous mock, but he certainly showed the talent during UConn's national title run.
Check out the full NBA Mock Draft 6.0 here.
One to Watch
(All odds via BetMGM)
Game 2: Indiana Pacers (+155) at New York Knicks (-4.5; -190), 8 p.m. ET
If Jalen Brunson doesn't channel his inner Michael Jordan go off for a fourth straight 40-point playoff game, the Knicks probably lose Game 1. So, while I'm certainly not doubting his ability to put New York on his 6-2 frame again, I just think these teams are very evenly matched and Pacers can get a game on the road. Even with a pedestrian six-point performance from Tyrese Haliburton, they lost Game 1 by just four. My conservative pick here for Indiana to cover +4.5, but don't be surprised if they win this one outright.
Alright, that's it for me. Enjoy the game. Catch you next time.