Does SN44.9 imply an intermediate state between births?

According to Kutuhalasala Sutta (SN44.9) , translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu: > **Vacchagotta:** "And at the moment when a being sets this body aside and is not yet reborn in another body, what do you designate as its > sustenance then?" > > **Buddha:** "Vaccha, when a being sets this body aside and is not yet reborn in another body, I designate it as craving-sustained, for > craving is its sustenance at that time." Alternative translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi here : > **Vacchagotta:** “And, Master Gotama, when a being has laid down this body but has not yet been reborn in another body, what does Master > Gotama declare to be its fuel on that occasion?” > > **Buddha:** “When, Vaccha, a being has laid down this body but has not yet been reborn in another body, I declare that it is fuelled by > craving. For on that occasion craving is its fuel.” In the Theravada tradition, the orthodox doctrine based on the Abhidhamma states that there is no intermediate state between births, that rebirth-linking consciousness instantaneously results in a new birth without any gaps. However, the above sutta implies that it is possible to have an intermediate state that is sustained by craving. So, my question is: does SN44.9 imply an intermediate state between births, or is there an alternative interpretation for it?