Hawks' Trae Young ejected from crucial matchup for 'making a mockery of the game'

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The Orlando Magic secured a playoff spot with a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday and did enough to see star sharpshooter Trae Young get ejected before the game was finished.

Young had 28 points and six assists in 40 minutes, but he was not around to see the game through. Young gave a strong pass to a referee after making a basket with 4:48 left in the game. The referee did not take too kindly to that and gave him a technical foul. 

Moments later, he deflected the ball with his foot and did not return it promptly to the referee.

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Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, #11, looks to pass the ball as Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr., #34, and forward Franz Wagner, #22, defend during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

He was tossed from the game from there. The NBA said he was tossed for "making a mockery of the game."

Referee James Williams addressed the technical fouls.

"Trae Young received his first unsportsmanlike technical foul for throwing the ball at a game official," he told a pool reporter. "He received his second unsportsmanlike technical foul for kicking the ball away and making a mockery of the game as we were attempting to shoot the free throw for the first technical foul and by rule when the player receives two unsportsmanlike fouls he’s ejected from the game," he added.

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Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, #11, attempts a shot as he goes between Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris, #14, and guard