The game was suspended indefinitely due to moisture buildup on the court, raising concerns about player safety.
The game between the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat was postponed due to poor court conditions at the United Center, caused by condensation.
The game was suspended indefinitely due to the accumulation of moisture on the court, which raised concerns about the safety of the players.
United Center staff worked to fix the problem, but persistent humidity made the court unsuitable for competition.
The United Center hosted a Chicago Blackhawks ice hockey game on Wednesday, and after an unseasonably warm and rainy day in Chicago, the basketball court was not in playing condition.
Players from both teams performed their usual pre-match warm-up routines, but deemed the court unsafe to play on.
After more than 90 minutes of unsuccessful attempts to solve the problem, which included increasing the air conditioning in the arena and drying the court with mops and large towels, the NBA office, referees and coaches of both teams decided to postpone the game.
“The players were complaining about the state of the court,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We all went out on the field and immediately realized that it was not possible to play.”
A new date for the game Thursday night was not immediately announced. The Heat do not plan to return to Chicago this season.
During the 2016-17 season, games in Minnesota and Philadelphia were postponed due to condensation under similar circumstances: a warm day in a cold-weather city, after an ice hockey event at the arena.
