Dejounte Murray suspended for bumping, 'verbally abusing' NBA ref
Another NBA star has been suspended this postseason.
Hawks guard Dejounte Murray won’t play in Game 5 of their first-round NBA playoff series against the Celtics after “making inappropriate contact with and verbally abusing a game official” near the end of Game 4, the league announced in its decision Monday.
After the final buzzer sounded Sunday, Murray walked over toward referee Gediminas Petraitis and appeared to say something — while also bumping Petraitis’ shoulder with his chest — before heading toward Atlanta’s locker room.
Murray, who ESPN reported didn’t address the media postgame, was then the subject of an investigation by the NBA.
The 26-year-old Murray, who was a first-round pick by the Spurs in 2016 NBA, averaged 20.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this season, and he has bumped those numbers to 25.3 and 7.3, respectively, in his first postseason action since 2017-18.
Murray joined Warriors forward Draymond Green as players to earn suspensions during the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs, as Green was suspended one game for stepping on Kings forward Domantas Sabonis before returning Sunday — and picking up another technical foul less than a minute after he checked in.
Dejounte Murray appeared to make contact with an official at the end of Atlanta’s Game 4 loss Sunday. Screengrab via Twitter
Other key stars have been close to missing time due to a suspension, too.
Joel Embiid kicked the Nets’ Nic Claxton in the groin area during Game 3, but he wasn’t suspended — though Embiid still ended up missing the next, and final, game of the series with an injury.
76ers guard James Harden, the former Nets star, was ejected later in Game 3 for making contact with Brooklyn’s Royce O’Neale in the groin area.
Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks, who has been engaged in a series-long feud with LeBron James, elbowed the Lakers star in the groin area during Game 3.
Dejounte Murray has been one of the Hawks’ best players in their first-round series against the Celtics. Getty Images
With their season on the line, the Hawks will have to survive without Dejounte Murray in Game 5. Getty Images
Embiid, Harden and Brooks all escaped without a suspension.
The No. 2-seeded Celtics lead the No. 7-seed Hawks, 3-1, and can secure their spot in the next round of the postseason with a victory Tuesday night.
Source: New York Post
