Zach KramJan 8, 2026, 10:28 PM ETCloseZach Kram is a national NBA writer for ESPN.com, specializing in short- and long-term trends across the league’s analytics landscape. He previously worked at The Ringer covering the NBA and MLB. You can follow Zach on X via @zachkram.
Benny the Bull instantly wins backward half-court shot contest vs. Tyler Herro (0:30)Benny the Bull drains a one-handed shot backward from half court during the Heat vs. Bulls delay. (0:30)
The scheduled game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls was postponed on Thursday because of condensation on the court in Chicago.
The United Center hosted a Chicago Blackhawks game on ice Wednesday, and after an unseasonably warm, rainy day in Chicago, the basketball court wasn’t in playable condition.
Players from both teams went through their standard pregame warmup routines but didn’t consider the court safe for a game.
Following more than 90 minutes of futile attempts to fix the issue — including turning up the arena’s air conditioning and sweeping the court with mops and large towels — the NBA league office, game officials and both teams’ coaches decided on the postponement.
A makeup date was not immediately announced Thursday night. The Heat aren’t currently scheduled to return to Chicago this season.
During the 2016-17 season, games in Minnesota and Philadelphia were postponed by condensation under similar circumstances: a warm day in a cold-weather city, following an event on ice in the arena.
playBenny the Bull instantly wins backward half-court shot contest vs. Tyler Herro (0:30)Benny the Bull drains a one-handed shot backward from half court during the Heat vs. Bulls delay. (0:30)Zach KramJan 8, 2026, 10:28 PM ETCloseZach Kram is a national NBA writer for ESPN.com, specializing in short- and long-term trends across the league’s analytics landscape. He previously worked at The Ringer covering the NBA and MLB. You can follow Zach on X via @zachkram.Open Extended ReactionsThe scheduled game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls was postponed on Thursday because of condensation on the court in Chicago.The United Center hosted a Chicago Blackhawks game on ice Wednesday, and after an unseasonably warm, rainy day in Chicago, the basketball court wasn’t in playable condition.Players from both teams went through their standard pregame warmup routines but didn’t consider the court safe for a game.Following more than 90 minutes of futile attempts to fix the issue — including turning up the arena’s air conditioning and sweeping the court with mops and large towels — the NBA league office, game officials and both teams’ coaches decided on the postponement.”The players were complaining about it on both sides,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We all went out there and pretty much immediately, we felt that it wasn’t playable.”A makeup date was not immediately announced Thursday night. The Heat aren’t currently scheduled to return to Chicago this season.During the 2016-17 season, games in Minnesota and Philadelphia were postponed by condensation under similar circumstances: a warm day in a cold-weather city, following an event on ice in the arena.
Benny the Bull instantly wins backward half-court shot contest vs. Tyler Herro (0:30)Benny the Bull drains a one-handed shot backward from half court during the Heat vs. Bulls delay. (0:30)
Benny the Bull drains a one-handed shot backward from half court during the Heat vs. Bulls delay. (0:30)
CloseZach Kram is a national NBA writer for ESPN.com, specializing in short- and long-term trends across the league’s analytics landscape. He previously worked at The Ringer covering the NBA and MLB. You can follow Zach on X via @zachkram.
playBenny the Bull instantly wins backward half-court shot contest vs. Tyler Herro (0:30)Benny the Bull drains a one-handed shot backward from half court during the Heat vs. Bulls delay. (0:30)Zach KramJan 8, 2026, 10:28 PM ETCloseZach Kram is a national NBA writer for ESPN.com, specializing in short- and long-term trends across the league’s analytics landscape. He previously worked at The Ringer covering the NBA and MLB. You can follow Zach on X via @zachkram.Open Extended ReactionsThe scheduled game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls was postponed on Thursday because of condensation on the court in Chicago.The United Center hosted a Chicago Blackhawks game on ice Wednesday, and after an unseasonably warm, rainy day in Chicago, the basketball court wasn’t in playable condition.Players from both teams went through their standard pregame warmup routines but didn’t consider the court safe for a game.Following more than 90 minutes of futile attempts to fix the issue — including turning up the arena’s air conditioning and sweeping the court with mops and large towels — the NBA league office, game officials and both teams’ coaches decided on the postponement.”The players were complaining about it on both sides,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We all went out there and pretty much immediately, we felt that it wasn’t playable.”A makeup date was not immediately announced Thursday night. The Heat aren’t currently scheduled to return to Chicago this season.During the 2016-17 season, games in Minnesota and Philadelphia were postponed by condensation under similar circumstances: a warm day in a cold-weather city, following an event on ice in the arena.
playBenny the Bull instantly wins backward half-court shot contest vs. Tyler Herro (0:30)Benny the Bull drains a one-handed shot backward from half court during the Heat vs. Bulls delay. (0:30)Zach KramJan 8, 2026, 10:28 PM ETCloseZach Kram is a national NBA writer for ESPN.com, specializing in short- and long-term trends across the league’s analytics landscape. He previously worked at The Ringer covering the NBA and MLB. You can follow Zach on X via @zachkram.Open Extended ReactionsThe scheduled game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls was postponed on Thursday because of condensation on the court in Chicago.The United Center hosted a Chicago Blackhawks game on ice Wednesday, and after an unseasonably warm, rainy day in Chicago, the basketball court wasn’t in playable condition.Players from both teams went through their standard pregame warmup routines but didn’t consider the court safe for a game.Following more than 90 minutes of futile attempts to fix the issue — including turning up the arena’s air conditioning and sweeping the court with mops and large towels — the NBA league office, game officials and both teams’ coaches decided on the postponement.”The players were complaining about it on both sides,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We all went out there and pretty much immediately, we felt that it wasn’t playable.”A makeup date was not immediately announced Thursday night. The Heat aren’t currently scheduled to return to Chicago this season.During the 2016-17 season, games in Minnesota and Philadelphia were postponed by condensation under similar circumstances: a warm day in a cold-weather city, following an event on ice in the arena.
playBenny the Bull instantly wins backward half-court shot contest vs. Tyler Herro (0:30)Benny the Bull drains a one-handed shot backward from half court during the Heat vs. Bulls delay. (0:30)Zach KramJan 8, 2026, 10:28 PM ETCloseZach Kram is a national NBA writer for ESPN.com, specializing in short- and long-term trends across the league’s analytics landscape. He previously worked at The Ringer covering the NBA and MLB. You can follow Zach on X via @zachkram.Open Extended ReactionsThe scheduled game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls was postponed on Thursday because of condensation on the court in Chicago.The United Center hosted a Chicago Blackhawks game on ice Wednesday, and after an unseasonably warm, rainy day in Chicago, the basketball court wasn’t in playable condition.Players from both teams went through their standard pregame warmup routines but didn’t consider the court safe for a game.Following more than 90 minutes of futile attempts to fix the issue — including turning up the arena’s air conditioning and sweeping the court with mops and large towels — the NBA league office, game officials and both teams’ coaches decided on the postponement.”The players were complaining about it on both sides,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We all went out there and pretty much immediately, we felt that it wasn’t playable.”A makeup date was not immediately announced Thursday night. The Heat aren’t currently scheduled to return to Chicago this season.During the 2016-17 season, games in Minnesota and Philadelphia were postponed by condensation under similar circumstances: a warm day in a cold-weather city, following an event on ice in the arena.
playBenny the Bull instantly wins backward half-court shot contest vs. Tyler Herro (0:30)Benny the Bull drains a one-handed shot backward from half court during the Heat vs. Bulls delay. (0:30)Zach KramJan 8, 2026, 10:28 PM ETCloseZach Kram is a national NBA writer for ESPN.com, specializing in short- and long-term trends across the league’s analytics landscape. He previously worked at The Ringer covering the NBA and MLB. You can follow Zach on X via @zachkram.Open Extended ReactionsThe scheduled game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls was postponed on Thursday because of condensation on the court in Chicago.The United Center hosted a Chicago Blackhawks game on ice Wednesday, and after an unseasonably warm, rainy day in Chicago, the basketball court wasn’t in playable condition.Players from both teams went through their standard pregame warmup routines but didn’t consider the court safe for a game.Following more than 90 minutes of futile attempts to fix the issue — including turning up the arena’s air conditioning and sweeping the court with mops and large towels — the NBA league office, game officials and both teams’ coaches decided on the postponement.”The players were complaining about it on both sides,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We all went out there and pretty much immediately, we felt that it wasn’t playable.”A makeup date was not immediately announced Thursday night. The Heat aren’t currently scheduled to return to Chicago this season.During the 2016-17 season, games in Minnesota and Philadelphia were postponed by condensation under similar circumstances: a warm day in a cold-weather city, following an event on ice in the arena.