The Celtics were already expected to take care of business on Tuesday vs. the Hawks, but things just got a lot easier. Dejounte Murray, one of Atlanta’s two elite guards, has been suspended for Game 5 in Boston.
The NBA handed down the one-game suspension — without pay — as a result of Murray “making inappropriate contact with and verbally abusing a game official” at the conclusion of Sunday’s Game 4 in Atlanta.
Through the first four games of this series, Murray averaged 25.3 points per game on 45.6% shooting and 39.4% shooting from deep. Removing him from the equation should make Game 5 a much lighter lift for Boston. Also, in the eight games Murray missed this season, Atlanta went 3-5.