Unexpected Schedule Shakeup: What the Heat-Bulls Reschedule Means for NBA Fans

Sometimes, the game isn’t won on the court but by what’s beneath it—or in this case, on top of it. Last Thursday, the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls found themselves sidelined not by a flurry of dunks or buzzer-beaters, but by a treacherously slick floor that just wouldn’t quit. Mother Nature teamed up with a hockey game’s leftover chill to concoct a hazardous mix of ice-cold condensation that drenched the court, making it impossible to play safely. So, with players’ safety front and center, the league stepped in, postponing the game and shuffling the schedule in a way that packs these two squads into a brutal, back-to-back gauntlet at the end of January—four games in five days, with three of those matchups featuring these very teams. As a sports fan and analyst, I’m fascinated by how this seemingly small hiccup might ripple through their season. Keep your eyes peeled—this stretch could make or break momentum. LEARN MORE

The slippery court that forced the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls to postpone their game last Thursday has slid both into a tough stretch of the schedule.

The league announced that the postponed game been rescheduled for Jan. 29. Additionally, the Chicago at Miami game, previously scheduled for Jan. 30, has been rescheduled to Jan. 31.

What that means in practice is that both the Bulls and Heat will now have to play four games in five days and play each other three times in that stretch.

This all came to pass because of condensation on the court that made it unsafe to play the teams’ scheduled Jan. 8 game. The combination of a Blackhawks game the night before (so there was ice under the floor) with an unseasonably warm and humid day in Chicago led to condensation forming on the court. While there were extensive efforts to mop up and towel off the court, the water would just come back because of the conditions.

It was unsafe, and ultimately, both coaches — along with league representatives and the referees — chose to postpone the game rather than risk players’ health.