Magic's Gordon blames loss vs. Lakers on clock error, refs: 'We feel cheated'

The Orlando Magic were seemingly deprived of a chance to win Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a clock issue.

"We feel cheated ..." Magic forward Aaron Gordon said afterward, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmusik. "They gave them the game. ... It's just a terrible end to a game of basketball. They didn't even give us a chance to win. And that's the last time we see them (the Lakers). We have to wait a year to play them again. They have gotta change that rule, and I think they will."

After Lakers center Brook Lopez hit a pair of free throws to give his team a 107-106 lead, Orlando had 0.6 seconds left with the ball at midcourt. However, the clock ticked away as Mario Hezonja's inbound pass was in flight, despite no one on the floor touching it.

Officials recognized the error and called for a jump ball at center court, but all Lopez had to do was tip it away to end the game.

"They took the ball from us and made it a jump ball with 0.6 seconds, which kills any chance of us tying the game or winning the game," Magic head coach Frank Vogel said. "I don't know. It's just common sense would tell me that in that situation, the clock started early, that you do redo the possession. They felt otherwise."

NBA crew chief Bill Spooner later explained that since no one was in possession of the ball as time expired, rule 13E-9-2 dictates that it must be brought to center court for a jump ball. This also applies whenever there's an inadvertent whistle or horn.

Los Angeles held a 104-95 lead with 2:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Magic rallied with an 11-2 run to take the lead with five seconds left off a layup in traffic by Gordon.