The NBA has officially postponed Thursday night's game between the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat due to slippery court conditions.
Originally scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT, the tip-off was initially delayed as officials and arena staff contended with a slippery floor caused by high humidity. According to reports from The Athletic, visible moisture was present on the hardwood well before the game was set to begin. Despite efforts by arena staff to dry the surface using brooms and mops, the league ultimately announced the postponement just after 8:30 p.m.
CHSN's K.C. Johnson reported that players from both teams reported feeling condensation on the court early in the evening. The issues were attributed to unseasonably warm temperatures and high humidity with rain in the Chicago area. The situation worsened as the United Center arena filled as fans entered; the frequent opening of entrance doors allowed more humid air to seep into the building, which then condensed upon contact with the ice surface situated beneath the basketball court.
"We always want to try to go. But players were complaining about it on both sides. Staff went out there and pretty much immediately we felt that it wasn't playable," Heat's head coach Erik Spoelstra said to Miami reporters.
Thursday night marks the first time the NBA postponed a regular-season game due to condensation since 2017, when the Minnesota Timberwolves played Tthe rail Blazers at home. The NBA will provide an update regarding a rescheduled date and time at a later point. Tickets from the game will be valid for the rescheduled game.