Magic’s Carter-Williams, Ross fined $15K for verbal abuse of game officials

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, left, drives to the basket in front of Orlando Magic guard Michael Carter-Williams (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)

Orlando Magic guards Michael Carter-Williams and Terrence Ross have each been fined $15,000 for verbal abuse of game officials and failing to leave the court in a timely manner, the NBA announced Thursday.

The incident occurred at the end of the Magic’s 115-112 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on March 3. With 18 seconds left in the game, Nikola Vucevic put the Magic up 112-111 with a follow-up layup. A few seconds later, Carter-Williams fouled Trae Young on a drive to the rim. Ross later missed a shot in the final seconds as the Magic suffered their fifth straight loss.

After the game was over, Ross went to discuss his shot attempt with the officials to argue that he had been fouled. The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report said that the Hawks’ Kevin Huerter brushed the ball on Ross’s drive to the basket, and “any additional contact to the arm is deemed incidental.”

The Magic are 13-23 this season and sit 14th in the Eastern Conference.

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