Jamal Murray still remembers that famous night when Toronto Raptors fans booed from pre-game warmup to the final buzzer for Vince Carter's first game back at the then-Air Canada Centre in 2005 after he was traded to the then-New Jersey Nets.
On Friday, the native of Kitchener, Ont. did his best imitation of the soon-to-be Hall of Famer.
Booed loudly by Minnesota Timberwolves fans in Game 3 after he threw a heat pad on the court in frustration in a Game 2 loss, the Denver Nuggets star embraced the hate and delivered an outstanding performance.
"Vince was my favourite player growing up," Murray said after scoring 24 points in a 117-90 win, cutting Minnesota's lead to 2-1 in the Western Conference semifinal.
"Every time he touched the ball, he got booed. I think he had a really good game playing against Toronto."
Indeed, Carter scored 39 points that night to lead the Nets to a victory in front of a truly hostile crowd. Months earlier, the Raptors traded Carter, who had become frustrated with the organization, in a deal that turned out to be tremendously one-sided in favour of the Nets.
Years later, Raptors fans seemed to put the rocky past behind them and started giving Carter huge cheers for games in Toronto. But that initial, memorable homecoming still stands out for Murray, who was eight years old at the time.
The Canadian knew he was in for similar treatment Friday after tossed a towel and a heat pack onto the court in frustration during Game 2 and was subsequently fined $100,000.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said Murray's actions were "inexcusable and dangerous.”
"That (the boos) definitely fuelled me during the game and keeps me in that mode," Murray said. "It's fun. I embrace that challenge, I embrace that moment. I probably deserved the boos. I'm not shying away from it."
Watch Game 4 of the Nuggets-Timberwolves series on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Sportsnet ONE or Sportsnet+.
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