Author: Monojit Mandal
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Atlanta Hawks player Dejounte Murray is being investigated by the NBA for colliding with an official at the end of Sunday’s playoff loss to the Boston Celtics. The event occurred when the final seconds of regulation ended in a 129-121 victory for Boston.
From the stands, the video shows Murray approaching umpire Gediminas Petraitis on the other side of the court. Murray collided with Petraitis’ right shoulder as the bell rang. The referee didn’t seem to notice Murray approaching, but as the Hawks guard walked away towards the tunnel, he turned and looked at Murray.
Murray then turned and pointed to the stands on the other side of the court, before being stopped by two Hawks staff members and taken back to the tunnel. Murray’s progress towards the tunnel was interrupted in the video.
It’s not clear what caused the situation. The collision was not captured in the footage of the TNT match broadcast. Murray didn’t respond immediately after the match.
Discipline possible for Murray
If the NBA determines that Murray’s actions were deliberate, he will face a penalty. The situation is currently being investigated. Murray is Atlanta’s second leading scorer, averaging 20.5 points, 6.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game in his debut season with the Hawks, after being acquired from the San Antonio Spurs in an off-season deal. He had 23 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in Sunday’s defeat, but was also charged with 4 fouls.
Boston takes 3-1 series lead
With Boston leading the series 3-1, the series now returns to Boston for Game 5. With a defeat, Atlanta will be eliminated, making Murray’s possible sanctions even more crucial. The Hawks will try to save their season, while the Celtics will try to win the series and advance to the next round of the playoffs.
The incident involving Dejounte Murray and referee Gediminas Petraitis has generated a lot of interest and discussion, with many wondering what caused the collision and what the possible outcomes might be. The NBA’s investigation is still ongoing and it is unclear what punishment will be meted out to Murray.