Trae Young ejected after throwing ball at referee in Atlanta Hawks' play-in loss to Orlando Magic

The Atlanta Hawks suffered a disappointing 120-95 loss to the Orlando Magic in the Play-In Tournament, but the game’s biggest talking point was Trae Young’s fiery ejection in the fourth quarter. The Hawks struggled from the opening tip, falling into a 22-point hole in the first half before a brief third-quarter rally cut the deficit to three. However, Orlando’s bench dominated, outscoring Atlanta’s reserves 57-30, sealing the lopsided win.


With the game slipping away late, Trae Young’s emotions got the best of him. After sinking a floater, he hurled the ball at the referee, earning an immediate technical foul. The situation escalated when he kicked the ball and pretended to hand it back to the official, resulting in a second technical and an ejection. Despite the outburst, Trae Young had a strong individual performance, finishing with 28 points and six assists.

The loss doesn’t eliminate Atlanta from postseason contention. They’ll face the winner of the Miami Heat-Chicago Bulls game for a chance to secure the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Young’s ejection will likely be reviewed by the league, but his availability for the next game isn’t expected to be affected.
For now, the Hawks must regroup quickly. Their bench production and defensive focus will need major improvements if they hope to extend their season beyond the Play-In Tournament.

Tonight's NBA play-in game between the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic was a high-stakes battle with playoff implications. The Magic, known for their elite defense, entered as 5-point favorites against the Hawks, who boast a potent offense but struggle defensively. Orlando's defense, ranked No. 1 in scoring defense, aimed to disrupt Atlanta's rhythm by forcing turnovers, a strategy that has troubled the Hawks in previous matchups.
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Key players included Orlando's Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, both strong scorers, while Atlanta relied heavily on Trae Young, who has averaged 25 points and 9 assists against the Magic this season. However, Young was ejected in the fourth quarter after two technical fouls, impacting the Hawks' chances. The Magic capitalized on their defensive pressure and won decisively with a final score of 120-95, securing their spot in the playoffs to face the Boston Celtics next.