Last night’s Hawks vs. Rockets clash ended in complete chaos. The Atlanta franchise headed into the game hoping to snap their five-game losing streak. And the competition was neck and neck all night. However, things took a controversial turn when Trae Young and Dillon Brooks got into a heated altercation, leading to double technical fouls for both stars. But while Trae expressed his frustration by publicly slamming the officials, NBA’s latest Pool Report on the incident revealed the reason behind the refs’ decision.

First, let’s dive into the altercation that started it all. The incident occurred in the closing seconds of the game. As Trae ran towards Dyson Daniels, he fell to the floor after Brooks tried to deny him the pass. Young was not pleased with Dillon’s antics and shoulder-bumped him after he got up, leading to a heated verbal altercation between both stars. But the situation escalated when Brooks grabbed the back of Young’s neck and pushed him before they were separated by teammates and staff. While everyone knew a tech was coming Dillon’s way, surprisingly, the officials also called a technical foul on Trae.

When asked if he received an explanation for why he got penalized, Young said postgame, “No, I didn’t get an explanation. They told our coaches that I headbutted him, but I mean that’s so terrible. He’s 6’6. I can walk to his spot like my head’s gonna be at his chin. He knew what he was doing.” However, crew chief Jacyn Goble provided more clarity in the Pool Report: “Upon review, Young was seen instigating the altercation by first, bumping Brooks as he was walking by him. He then closes space with his head and contacts Brooks’ face while talking to Brooks who reacts by grabbing the back of Young’s head. This is why double technical fouls were assessed at replay.”

However, it didn’t seem like Trae believed he was at fault as he was visibly frustrated by the decision. He was trying very hard to not say something about the refs that would get him fined, but he did suggest Adam Silver hire new officials, “Man, I’m trying to save my money. I got plenty but I’m saving it as much as I can. So, these refs are not worth my money but we do need some new ones.” Obviously, his frustration is justified because his team ended up losing the game and a different decision could have swung the game in their favor.

Trae Young claims the Hawks will be “Alright” despite controversial loss against Rockets

Even if Trae was the one who initiated contact, many believe Brooks should have received a bigger penalty because he grabbed the player’s neck. However, Goble defended the decision by saying, “It was a dead ball. We can go technical foul for physical taunts.” Whatever the reason, the outcome of the game has been set in stone and the Hawks’ losing streak has extended to six games after last night’s loss.

But Trae still has faith in his squad to turn things around, “I mean it’s tough but it’s part of the NBA. You gotta dig yourself out of the hole that you put yourself in and sometimes teams just get put in holes and you gotta figure out how to find your way out of it. That’s where we’re at right now… We’ll be alright. Trust me.” Well, their next opportunity to snap this losing streak will come on Thursday as they take on the mighty Cavaliers, which would be another massive challenge. Do you think Trae Young and Co. can get the job done this time?