Things got a bit … unconventional in the third quarter of the Los Angeles Clippers-Denver Nuggets playoff series on Monday night when Denver’s Jamal Murray inexplicably picked up L.A.’s Norman Powell.
It all happened when Powell was at the top of the key, angling for his next move off a pass from James Harden. As the Clipper pivoted, an overeager Murray got a little too handsy with his defense and lifted his opponent off the ground.
The ref immediately whistled to stop the play, but, of course, Powell was incensed; a small-scale fracas involving both teams ensued.
JAMAL MURRAY & NORMAN POWELL 😳
GETTING CHIPPY IN DENVER 👀 pic.twitter.com/kYb5kvOpFD
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 22, 2025
Oddly enough, however, Murray escaped the whole thing with just a common foul, while Powell, Kris Dunn, and Christian Braun all received technicals. And somehow, when the dust settled, Murray was shooting a free throw despite instigating the entire affair.
Unsurprisingly, the very strange moment and the resulting light punishment did not go unnoticed online. Check that reaction out below:
Jamal Murray with an interesting defensive strategy on Powell
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 22, 2025
Jamal Murray when the refs gave him a free throw and only a common foul pic.twitter.com/6Q9xixGT7U
— John (@iam_johnw) April 22, 2025
jamal murray to norm powell pic.twitter.com/9juuGPafWg
— dan molloy (@danyomolloy) April 22, 2025
Someone tell Jamal Murray WrestleMania was yesterday pic.twitter.com/s9dli5923p
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) April 22, 2025
Jamal Murray picks up Norm and it leads to a scuffle. The refs decide Norm, Dunn, and Braun get a T but Murray gets a common foul.
MAKE IT MAKE SENSE
Jamal started it all by lifting up Norm 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/TQFRzNbDvL
— Jacob (@Jacobtheclipper) April 22, 2025
They gave Jamal Murray a free throw for this 🤣 pic.twitter.com/i16tJOYcwQ
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) April 22, 2025
Jamal Murray picked up Norman Powell and tried to act like he didn’t do anything lmaoo pic.twitter.com/4FBk2MDY1f
— John (@iam_johnw) April 22, 2025
And after all this Jamal Murray ended up at the free throw line 😩💀 pic.twitter.com/8VOHYUlo5f
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) April 22, 2025
Jamal Murray really bicep curled Norm Powell
pic.twitter.com/eD49Hb4owe— Nathan (@nd_joyce) April 22, 2025
murray didn’t get a tech for picking powell off the ground? lmao
— claire de lune (@ClaireMPLS) April 22, 2025
Well, guess that’s just playoff basketball for you, folks.
