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Common: Dunk contest judge ruined planned tie between Gordon, Jones

Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty

One Slam Dunk Contest judge apparently went rogue.

Miami Heat high-flyer Derrick Jones Jr. edged Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon in a controversial finish Saturday after Gordon's slam over Boston Celtics giant Tacko Fall was scored a 47 - one point off the 48 given to Jones' dunk.

However, as it turns out, the judging panel of rapper Common, WNBA star Candace Parker, actor Chadwick Boseman, and retired icons Scottie Pippen and Dwyane Wade supposedly had a plan in place to keep things between Jones and Gordon knotted up.

That is, until one of the judges deviated from the scheme.

"We thought it was going to be tied," Common told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne after the event. "We were like, 'This is a tie' ... But somebody didn't do it right. I don't know who it is."

Common and Parker were the only judges who gave Gordon a perfect 10 for leaping over the 7-foot-5 Fall. Parker quickly took to Instagram to clear her name and corroborated Common's claim the quintet were trying to orchestrate a tie.

If a clear winner didn't emerge from the dunk-off, the judges would have decided who won by voting on which participant was better throughout the night.

"I really felt it was an even battle and we - as judges - felt the scores should be even and they should just have a judge off," Common told Shelburne. "We had the cards. Put your card up for who had the best dunks."

Neither Boseman, Pippen, or Wade have taken the blame for the supposed mishap. However, Boseman also gave Jones a nine, which likely rules him out. That means Wade or Pippen incorrectly gave Gordon a nine for his slam.

Considering Wade played 14-and-a-half seasons in Miami, it may be tough to give "Flash" the benefit of the doubt on this one.

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