Trae Young Ejected as Hawks Fall to Magic in NBA Play-In Tournament 2025

Orlando, FL — Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young was ejected in the final minutes of a crushing 95-120 loss to the Orlando Magic during the NBA Play-In Tournament 2025 at the Kia Center. The Hawks struggled under pressure throughout the game, trailing since the first quarter.

Although they briefly cut the deficit to three points late in the third quarter, they couldn’t capitalize and regain momentum. Frustrated by the Hawks' inability to rally, Young received two technical fouls and was forced to leave the game with just four minutes remaining.

Read More: https://www.esnnews.com/post/anthony-davis-mavericks-win-hawks-play-in-race Young’s ejection stemmed from two unsportsmanlike technical fouls: first for throwing the ball toward referee James Williams, and the second for kicking the ball and mocking the officials during a technical free throw attempt.

“By rule, when a player receives two unsportsmanlike technical fouls, he is ejected from the game,” said Williams post-game. Young later clarified in a post-game interview that his frustration was rooted in defending his teammate Dyson Daniels, who he felt was being unfairly officiated.

Read More: https://www.esnnews.com/post/trae-young-returns-oklahoma-assistant-general-manager-donation Despite the early exit, Trae Young led the Hawks in scoring with 28 points, shooting 8-for-21 from the field and 11-for-12 from the free-throw line, along with 2 rebounds and 6 assists in 39 minutes of play.

Supporting performances came from George Niang with 15 points off the bench, Mouhamed Gueye with 12, and Onyeka Okongwu who notched a double-double. The Hawks still have one final shot at securing the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference by defeating either the Bulls or the Heat in their next matchup.