The NBA is currently investigating the incident where Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks guard, appeared to be making contact with referee Gediminas Petraitis at the end of Atlanta’s loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. If found guilty, Murray might face significant discipline, which could affect his team’s victory chances in the subsequent games.
Murray is averaging 25.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 2.3 steals in this series. These numbers show that he is critical to his team, and if he is suspended, the Hawks may struggle against the Celtics in the coming games. Murray’s absence could allow the Celtics to advance to the conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers and end Atlanta’s season.
It is essential to note that the league customarily takes a hard stance against anyone making contact with a game official. As such, there is a high likelihood that Murray will face significant disciplinary action from the NBA. A precedent has already been set by the league when Celtics forward Grant Williams was suspended for a game last October for making contact with a game official when he was ejected in the fourth quarter of a game against the Chicago Bulls.
This is not the first time that Murray has found himself in hot water with the league. In February 2022, while still with the San Antonio Spurs, Murray was fined $20,000 after he was ejected from a game at the Memphis Grizzlies for throwing a game ball off the legs of a referee.
In summary, Dejounte Murray, an Atlanta Hawks guard, is in hot water with the NBA after he appeared to make contact with the referee at the end of game 4 between the Hawks and the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference first-round series. The league has customarily taken a hard stance against anyone making contact with a game official, and there is a high likelihood that Murray will face significant disciplinary action. Murray’s abscess might affect his team’s victory chances in the coming games, where the Celtics will face the Hawks in Boston for Game 5.
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