DENVER (AP) — After a difficult-to-watch film session of their Monday night meltdown against Minnesota and an energetic practice Wednesday, Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone gave his team a stinging reminder and made a request.

“Guys, we’re the reigning world champions,” Malone said. “Act like it and play like it.”

They did neither in their 108-80 Game 2 loss to the Timberwolves, who took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 Western Conference semifinal series back to Minneapolis.

On Tuesday, the NBA fined Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray $100,000 for tossing a towel and a heat pack onto the court “in the direction of a game official during live play” in the second quarter of Game 2.

Murray avoided a suspension and also dodged any punishment for making a money sign at an official earlier in the second quarter. A similar gesture by Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a regular season game in March drew a $100,000 fine from the league.