The clock malfunction at the Staples Center ended up in a bizarre conclusion to the game, which took away the Orlando Magic's chance at a final shot, helping the Los Angeles Lakers to a 108-107 win on Wednesday night.

With only 0.6 seconds left, Magic shooting guard Mario Hezonja threw a lob into the paint area, but the clock had been started prematurely, and the buzzer sounded as the ball was still in the air without making contact with a player or any part of the rim or backboard.

https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/971627544108847104

The referees reviewed the play and concluded on making the play a jump ball, rather than re-starting the play, which would have been the correct call to make.

“We feel cheated,” Orlando forward Aaron Gordon said afterward, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. “…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 [the NBA] have gotta change that rule, and I think they will.”

NBA crew chief Bill Spooner explained the ruling to a pool reporter after the game.

“Because there's no possession when the clock goes off, the ruling is that there's a jump ball, center circle,” Spooner said. “The rule is 13E-9-2. And anytime there is either an inadvertent whistle and/or a horn when the ball is in the air, there's no possession and we go center circle, jump ball.”

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This ruling gave the Magic next to no chance to get possession and shoot before the clock went off, killing their chances to win the game.

Even the Lakers players admitted to being befuddled by the call, but being glad that it panned out in their favor.

“I still don't even know how it ended,” point guard Isaiah Thomas said. “I don't even know what the call was or whatever the case may be. But I am just glad we won… I mean, that sucks for the Magic. I am glad we won.”

I have never really seen nothing like that before,” added rookie forward Kyle Kuzma. “But it worked in our favor… It helped us get a win, kind of really saved us.”