DALLAS – Denver Nuggets goalie Jamal Murray was sent off after what appeared to be a deliberate shot in the Dallas Mavericks’ Tim Hardaway Jr. groin area in the second half of their game Monday night.
Murray stumbled back as the pair collided as Denver began to bid. Murray stood up and stretched between Hardaway’s legs with his right arm, causing Hardaway to bend over.
The closest contact officer blew to stop the game with 4:51 remaining in the third quarter and gave the other referees. The original call was a foul on Murray and was updated to a flagrant foul 2 in a video review.
Murray had 16 points when he was sent off, the same total as his team leader at the break.
The Nuggets led 80-73 when the game was stopped, and Hardaway scored the next seven points in just 23 seconds to get the Mavericks just before they took their first advantage early in the first quarter.
However, the Nuggets returned to win 117-113.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.