An obscure NBA rule cost the Magic an epic buzzer-beater against the Bulls

The Orlando Magic looked like they wouldn't have much trouble against the Chicago Bulls early in their game on Wednesday night. Orlando built an early 20-point lead as Paolo Banchero hammered the Bulls inside and Orlando's defense blocked the space.

Somehow the Bulls came back – again. Chicago had just come back from a 20-point deficit in their last game against the Memphis Grizzlies and secured the win. This time the formula was similar: The Bulls dropped three points in the third quarter and had some luck with the Magic running ice cold from deep.

The game fell apart in the final seconds, but Chicago secured the win when Jalen Suggs missed a turnaround jumper near the horn of regulation time. The Bulls saved the rebound and Josh Giddey went to the line for two free throws. He sank the second, giving the Bulls a three-point lead with just 0.1 seconds left on the clock. Orlando called a timeout to advance the ball.

The Magic passed the ball to Banchero, who hit a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded. Over time? Not quite. When the Magic star and his head coach Jamal Mosley complained to the referees, the referees knew that a replay was not required due to the Trent Tucker Rule. Watch the piece here:

The Trent Tucker Rule states that each catch-and-shoot must have at least 0.3 seconds remaining on the shot clock. It's physically impossible to fire a shot in 0.1 seconds, so Banchero's throw never stood a chance.

The rule was ironically born against the Chicago Bulls. The former New York Knicks guard hit a game-winning buzzer-beater against the Bulls in 1990 with 0.1 seconds left. The shot was called good. New Bulls coach Phil Jackson protested the game. He lost the protest, but the Tucker Rule – you need at least 0.3 seconds on the clock for a catch-and-shoot – was implemented the next season. Here is the original recording by Trent Tucker.

Banchero did his best here, catching the ball in the air like it was a lob and immediately pushing it out of his hands. Unfortunately, it's just not possible for him to make that shot in just a tenth of a second.

What a win for the Bulls, who are suddenly 3-2 without DeMar DeRozan and playing an up-tempo, three-point style. Banchero will have more magical moments in his career, but this one just wasn't meant to be.