The NBA is suspending Hawks guard Dejounte Murray one game for making contact with and verbally abusing a referee after Atlanta’s loss to the Celtics on Sunday in Game 4 of the teams’ first-round playoff series. Murray is expected to serve the suspension during Game 5 on Tuesday night.
Late on Sunday night, a video showing Murray appearing to bump into a referee while arguing went viral on social media. Following the game, the NBA announced it would look into the incident to decide whether the incident required a punishment.
In his first season with the Hawks, Murray averaged 20.5 points, 6.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 74 regular-season games. So far in the playoffs, Murray has totaled at least 23 points and played in at least 35 minutes in each game against Boston
Dejounte Murray bumps referee at the end of the Atlanta Hawks Boston Celtics playoff game 4 #nba pic.twitter.com/Km0DFU1gSM
— mcbuckets (@creatorjordan23) April 24, 2023
Atlanta trails 3-1 in the best-of-seven series against the defending Eastern Conference champions, so if they lose on Tuesday, Murray will not suit up again in an NBA game until next season.
If the Hawks can win without Murray on Tuesday in Boston, Game 6 would be played Thursday in Atlanta.
