Thursday night’s game between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat was postponed because of condensation on the United Center court, the NBA announced after a nearly two-hour delay for a scheduled 8 p.m. ET tip-off.
On an uncharacteristically warm January day in the Windy City, temperatures hovered in the 50s with close to 90% humidity and rain coming down.
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The arena doubles as the home of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks. The ice underneath the floorboards was melting along the edges of the hardwood, per The Athletic’s report.
Around 8:50 p.m., the teams returned to their locker rooms for the first time, as the delay continued to drag on, according to The Athletic’s Joel Lorenzi.
Before players made that trip back to the locker room, they hung out on the floor, chatting with each other and getting up shots, per Chicago Sports Network’s K.C. Johnson, who reported that Bulls wing Isaac Okoro and guard Jevon Carter were even playing a game of HORSE or PIG.
At one point, Benny the Bull banked in a backwards halfcourt shot in front of Tyler Herro, earning a dap from the Heat star to the tune of some cheers from the crowd.
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This story is being updated.