Michael Carter-Williams, Terrence Ross fined $15K for 'verbal abuse' of refs

The NBA has fined Magic guards Michael Carter-Williams and Terrence Ross $15,000 apiece after altercations with referees in their 115-112 Wednesday home loss to the Hawks, per JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors.

Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee shares an official NBA press statement on the penalties. The league listed the charges as “verbal abuse of game officials and failing to leave the court in a timely manner.”

Ross, who scored 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting in the loss, and Carter-Williams, who logged 20 points, six assists and six rebounds, were upset about two late-game referee decisions. Carter-Williams was irked over a foul call that went against him while defending a Trae Young layup attempt with 18 seconds left in regulation.

Carter-Williams was called for hitting Young in the head. Magic head coach Steve Clifford debated the foul in postgame remarks, saying in part, “In my opinion that’s not a foul, particularly at that point in the game,” Clifford said in part. “I’ll tell you with 100% certainty there was no contact to the head.” 

On the other end of the floor, Ross was upset about not receiving a foul call in his favor while being guarded by Solomon Hill with eight seconds remaining in regulation.