Trae Young ejected for 'making a mockery of the game' after firing the ball at 1 ref, playing keep-away from another

Trae Young was ejected late in the Atlanta Hawks' play-in loss to the Orlando Magic after receiving two quick technical fouls for confrontations with referees. Despite helping the Hawks rally from a 22-point deficit earlier, the game slipped away in the fourth quarter.

With the Hawks trailing significantly, Young scored a layup to make it 107-87. Immediately after, he threw the ball at referee James Williams on the baseline, earning his first technical foul. As Williams advanced the dead ball towards referee Pat Fraher for the Magic's technical free throw, Young intercepted the pass and kicked the ball away from Fraher towards the sideline. This action resulted in his second technical foul, triggering an automatic ejection.

Following the ejection call, Young continued to delay his exit. He picked up the ball, faked a pass to Fraher, and used a crossover dribble to play keep-away before finally dropping the ball behind him as he walked to the tunnel. Uninterrupted fan video confirmed Young deliberately kicked the ball away from Fraher.

Postgame, referee James Williams clarified the reasons for the technical fouls: "Trae Young received his first unsportsmanlike technical foul for throwing the ball at a game official." The second technical was for kicking the ball away.