Jamal Murray scored a career-high 48 points Monday night, but it was Kyrie Irving’s reaction to Murray’s decision to shoot a 3-pointer as time expired that stole the show. 

Kyrie took the ball and tossed it into the crowd. 

Irving wound up with the ball after Murray’s shot missed, and after ripping his hand away when Denver Nuggets assistant Jordi Fernandez — who was a player development assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers during Irving’s first two NBA seasons — attempted to shake it, he turned and fired the ball high into the stands before marching off the court.

Irving had this to say after the game:

“I mean, what kind of competitor wouldn’t it bother?” Irving said. “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. Our defense has to be better, especially against a player like that in the pick-and-roll. He was the primary concern tonight and he made us pay in certain instances of making some tough shots and some tough layups.

Murray had this to say about his shot attempt to land a 50 point game. 

“I think my emotions took over, as it normally does,” said Murray, who shot 19-for-30 overall, 5-for-11 from 3-point range and went 5-for-5 from the foul line. “No disrespect to the Boston organization and fans with that shot — I just had in my mind that I was going to go 50, and I think everybody kind of understood that was what I was trying to do.

I think Kyrie was more upset about the Boston Celtics’ 115-107 loss to the Nuggets  more than anything else. You have to appreciate the passion he brings. 

Shooting a last second shot when you have the win secured is definitely in poor form. One of the unwritten rules of basketball.