Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young shared his frustration regarding officiating following Atlanta’s 114-108 defeat to the Orlando Magic on Thursday night. Young, who received a technical foul early in the fourth quarter, expressed concerns over what he perceived as biased officiating in a crucial game for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.

“They shot 10 more free throws than us,” Young commented. “If you ask anyone in the league, they’d likely say they’re a more physical team than we are based on how we drive. Even some players were laughing when fouls weren’t called.”

During the game, the Hawks were penalized with 25 fouls compared to the Magic’s 22, yet Orlando had a significant advantage at the free-throw line with 38 attempts compared to Atlanta’s 28. The Hawks also faced the additional frustration of being assessed three technical fouls while the Magic received one.

A series of contentious calls in the early minutes of the fourth quarter ignited exchanges between the game officials and Young along with several teammates. Young was penalized with a technical foul after a foul call with 10:59 remaining and subsequently received two more fouls in the following minute. Despite the officiating challenges, he concluded the night with an impressive tally of 38 points and five assists.

“You hope for referees who can handle things without taking them personally and recognize that players develop,” Young stated. “I’m not 19 anymore. I’m able to communicate with the refs, and many are responsive. However, you encounter a few, like tonight, who seem to take things to heart, evident in their calls.”