Suspended Referee Henderson Is Reinstated by League

Referee Michael Henderson, whose blown call at the end of a Laker-Nugget game drew a rebuke from the NBA, will return to the court after meeting with league officials.

“He will resume his normal schedule,” NBA spokesman Tim Frank said, declining to give details about the meeting.

Henderson met with NBA officials, including deputy commissioner Russ Granik and senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson for about 90 minutes at league headquarters in New York, said Lamell McMorris, a spokesman for the National Basketball Referees Assn.

After that, members of the union’s board, including officials Joe DeRosa, Derrick Stafford and Steve Javie, spent about two hours discussing the league’s evaluation and development policies with NBA officials, McMorris said.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” McMorris said in a telephone interview. “We’ll be watching the league’s actions to see if they’re serious about developing referees.”

The referees’ union said the third-year official was suspended for three games after the incorrect call, which prompted a statement from the league acknowledging the mistake that might have cost Denver a win. It’s the first time that an official had been suspended for making an error, the union has said.

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Jason Kidd sat out his third straight game Friday, missing the New Jersey Nets’ meeting with Golden State because of a bone bruise in his left knee.

Kidd was hurt in a game against the Lakers last week. He has sat out the first three games of a four-game West Coast trip.

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The Toronto Raptors signed veteran point guard Rod Strickland for the rest of the season and waived guard Jannero Pargo. Strickland requested and received his release from the Orlando Magic earlier this month so he could sign with a playoff team.