Chicago Bulls Miami Heat game postponed, Bulls Heat game rescheduled, Bulls news, Bulls injury report, Josh Giddey, Coby White, Bulls trade rumors, Miami Heat news
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 8: A view of a post made by the Chicago Bulls organization on the Jumbotron to notify fans that the game against the Miami Heat has been postponed at the United Center due to court conditions on January 8, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
For a brief moment on January 8th, the leading storyline in the NBA was actually the lack of a game happening, as a recent ChicagoBulls and Miami Heat game was delayed due to condensation on the court.
The contest between the two Eastern Conference Play-In rivals was eventually postponed after the delay ran over two hours, with an uncertain status on when the game would actually take place.
But now, the NBA has rescheduled for January 29th, three weeks after it was originallysupposed to take place.
“The NBA announced today the Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls game that was postponed on Jan. 8 has been rescheduled for Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. EST,” the league wrote in a statement which was posted on X. “Additionally, the Chicago at Miami game, previously scheduled for Jan 30, has been rescheduled for Jan 31. at 8 p.m. EST.”
NBA Communications
The following has been released by the NBA.
The Bulls, with a record of 18-20, could benefit from the original postponement and subsequent rescheduling of the contest, as by then, star point guard Josh Giddey could return from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since New Year’s Eve.
Bulls-Heat Postponed Game Rescheduled
Though there were initially questions about when, if ever, the game between the two middling teams wouldhappen after the long delay, fans finally have an answer. It works well for the two, and the league as well, as Chicago was already set to play Miami late in the month, so the rescheduling creates a simple solution in which they play back-to-back contests.
But back to January 8th,in which the postponed game briefly took the NBA and sports world by storm,for two short hours. The contest, which was supposed to be held on NBA TV, was delayed due to condensation on the court.Initial reports couldn’t confirmif itwas due to the thunderstormhappening in the city or the melting of the Chicago Blackhawks‘ ice located below the Bulls’ court in the United Center.
Further reports detailed that it was due to ice melting, which was caused by ‘abnormally warm temperatures’ both inside and outside the United Center.
“Last Thursday, abnormally warm temperatures both inside and outside Chicago’s United Center resulted in visible moisture on the floor,” Jordy Fee-Platt wrote for The Athletic. “Thehumidity indoors was almost two times the normal rate for a typical NBA game. Temperatures outside in Chicago were unusually high, with a listed reading of 55 degrees at 8 p.m. The conditions caused the ice rink under the floor, used for Chicago Blackhawks games, to start melting along the edges.”
During the delay, perhaps the most notable moment came when Chicago mascot Benny the Bull challenged Heat All-Star Tyler Herro to a shooting contest, in which the mascot hit one of his famous half-court shots while facing the other side of the court.
NBA Philippines
Benny the Bull impresses Tyler Herro with his trick shot 🤯
While the story caught fire for a few hours,now the league has found a solution for what appears to be the first NBA game postponed since the COVID-19 pandemic began in Marchof 2020.
Chicago Bulls Injury Report, Trade Rumors
As mentioned, Giddey is currently out for the Bulls with a hamstring injury. Before going out, the newly-signed $100 million man in Chicago was averaging 19, 9, and 9, a near triple-double in what was deemed one of the biggest steals of the NBA offseason.
Along with Giddey, who is expected to return closer to the end of January, the Bulls have Zach Collins and rookie Noa Essengue on their injury report. Collins, their backup center, has a ‘significant’ right big toe sprain and has no timeline for a return, while Essengue is set to miss the rest of the season after undergoing right shoulder surgery, playing in just two games for a combined six minutes in his first season.
Besides the injuries, insiders can’t decide whether the Bulls will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. Giddey will certainly stay in Chicago, but his backcourt running mate, Coby White, has been heavily rumored to go to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who desperately need a playmaker at point guard.
Additionally, Chicago has been urged, and predicted, to trade the expiring contract of Nikola Vucevic. Vooch has been one of the Bulls’ most consistent players in recent memory, but as seen with their constant appearances in the Play-In Tournament or missing out on the postseasonas a whole, they could very well move on from him before the deadline.
As they have been for so many years now, Chicagois in the dreaded middle ground no team wants to be in,unable to make waves in the playoffs and unable to land a top pick. Giddeylooks to be their future, but until he returns and their trade deadline moves becomeclear, that willstay the same.