Overview

• Trae Young was ejected in the fourth quarter of the Hawks' 120-95 play-in loss to the Magic after receiving two technical fouls for throwing a hard pass at a referee and kicking the ball.
• Young cited frustration with officiating as the reason for his actions, claiming he was standing up for his teammates, including Dyson Daniels, who he felt was not receiving fair treatment from officials.
• Despite his ejection, Young led all scorers with 28 points, though Atlanta struggled offensively, shooting poorly from beyond the arc.
• The loss forces the Hawks into a must-win game on Friday against the winner of the Bulls-Heat matchup to claim the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
• NBA officiating remains under scrutiny, with referee James Williams accusing Young of making a 'mockery of the game,' while Young criticized the physicality of the Magic's play and the lack of calls.