Orlando Magic Notes: NBA admits it got late-game call wrong in Oklahoma City

The NBA admits it made an incorrect call late in Wednesday’s Orlando Magic loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. And Aaron Gordon is going dunking.

With the Orlando Magic clinging to a two-point lead, Russell Westbrook came around a screen from Kevin Durant with a clear path to the basket. Elfrid Payton was late getting around the pick and Tobias Harris was staying glued to Kevin Durant.

Westbrook went down the lane and tied the game with no resistance from the defense. Scott Skiles lamented the Magic’s inability to have anyone step up in that moment and get a stop.

Video review showed there was a good reason though.

The NBA in its daily 2-minute report for close games, admitted officials made an incorrect call on that play. Thunder center Steven Adams should have been called for an offensive foul for holding Nikola Vucevic‘s arm and preventing him from defending the play.

It is unclear whether that alone would have kept Westbrook from making the shot and tying the game. It certainly would have allowed Vucevic to make a play. And considering the Thunder had made just one of their previous 10 shots, the Magic were making good defensive rotations and plays.

There is no crying over spilled milk though. The Magic had a two-point lead and three possessions in the final two minutes to extend it to four and could not convert.

Orlando has had some reasons to cry foul this year with multiple plays the NBA retroactively said were incorrect that affected late-game results. The Magic have also had at least one incorrect call go in their favor late in a game.

It is water under the bridge now.

Aaron Gordon officially entered into dunk contest

Aaron Gordon was officially announced as a participant in the 2016 NBA Slam Dunk Contest on Thursday.

C.J. Watson participates in shootaround

After being absent for the past 40 games, C.J. Watson may be inching closer to a return.

Watson was spotted on the court for the first time in a while before the Magic’s home win over the Boston Celtics taking shots and did so again during their road trip to San Antonio and Oklahoma City.

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports Watson participated in the entirety of the team’s shootaround Wednesday. Doing so again Friday before the Magic play the Los Angeles Clippers would be yet another signal that the backup point guard’s return is near.

Skiles said he just needs to get his conditioning back and continue through the team’s injury protocols:

"“It’s more sort of a reconditioning thing now, trying to get back in shape. When we feel like maybe that’s happening — I don’t know exactly when that will [happen] but hopefully in the next several days — then we’ll try to get him into some sort of contact and just kind of go from there.”"

Dewayne Dedmon missed Wednesday’s game with a foot sprain.

Orlando to recognize Gainesville police officer

Gainesville police officer Bobby White became an Internet sensation when video of him responding to a noise complaint that turned into an impromptu basketball game went viral.

Now the Magic will recognize Officer White as a Hometown Hero before the game and invite some of the young men he played basketball with to the Magic game Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks.

Officer White will also accept a $1,000 donation to the Gainesville Police Department as part of State Farm’s “Exist to Assist” program to recognize good neighbors.

White went viral when he responded to a noise complaint in January of a resident complaining about kids making noise in the street. White found a group of kids playing basketball on the street and opted to de-escalate the situation.

The kids were not in trouble and the police officer played some with them, promising he would return with some more officers to get a game going.

With all the negative news about police officers — especially in minority communities — this was a shining example of good policing.

The police officer did return to shoot hoops with the kids. The story by then had gone viral and Shaquille O’Neal had joined the group, playing with them in the rematch.

Now the whole group — Officer White and the kids — will be the Magic’s guests for Sunday’s game. For many it will be their first NBA game.

Next: Which Magic players should be heading to Toronto?

Good deeds can go a long way.