The Hawks uphill battle against the Celtics just got even tougher.
Atlanta fell into a 3-1 series hole on Sunday, dropping Game 4 at home to Boston. After the loss, Hawks star guard Dejounte Murray was seen confronting a referee — a video that put his status in jeopardy for Game 5.
As the final buzzer sounded, Murray made his way over to official Gediminas Petraitis and appeared to shout something as he bumped into him. Teammates and coaches then led Murray to the locker room.
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
ESPN's Tim Bontemps was the first to report that the NBA would investigate Murray's situation after he made contact with an official at the end of the game.
Murray, who recorded 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists in the loss, continued to yell back toward the referees as he left the court, visibly frustrated by the officiating towards the end of the contest.
What was the NBA's ruling on Murray's situation? The Sporting News has the latest updates below.
Will Dejounte Murray be suspended for Game 5?
The NBA announced on Monday that Murray will be "suspended for one game without pay for making inappropriate contact with and verbally abusing a game official."
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/6IEAnN4Mzj
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 24, 2023
Murray will serve his suspension on Tuesday, April 25, for Game 5 at the TD Garden in Boston.
The ruling isn't much of a surprise, given the clarity in the NBA rule book for disciplining players for making contact with an official.
Any player or coach guilty of intentional physical contact with an official shall automatically be suspended without pay for one game."
A fine and/or longer period of suspension will result if circumstances so dictate
In October, Celtics forward Grant Williams was suspended one game for making contact with an official.
The league's ruling on Williams was for "recklessly making contact with and directing inappropriate language toward a game official" which earned him a technical foul and an ejection.
However, a suspension isn't always issued for making contact with an official. In February 2022, Pistons wing Hamidou Diallo was issued a $20,000 fine for making contact with an official.
While a member of the Spurs in 2022, Dejounte Murray was fined $20,000 for throwing the ball toward an official after he was ejected from a game in Memphis.
