Technical?

[ref51087]

Saw this last night in an 35 and over game. About 13 ticks left on the clock in the 4th, Team A is down by 30 points. A inbounds after B scores, and A1 dribbles up to just over half court. He then makes a baseball style "pass" with rocket speed and clobbers his defender about 6 feet in front of him, knocking him back several feet onto his back. Ref calls a T on A1 for unsporting conduct. Without any doubt of A1's intentions to hit B1, I was just wondering if the more politically correct call would have been an intentional or even flagrant intentional. Fairly arbitrary question considering the situation, but just looking for the absolute correct ruling. Thanks