Heat-Magic Game Canceled Due to Slippery Court

Filed under: Heat, Magic, NBA Preseason

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- A slippery court installed over an NHL ice surface forced the cancellation of Friday night's preseason finale between the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat.

The Magic couldn't hold a shootaround practice because of the wet conditions Friday morning, prompting Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and guard Vince Carter to question the safety of the court. Workers at the St. Pete Times Forum tried to solve the problem for several more hours.

The NBA released a statement saying the game was canceled because of "unsafe playing conditions on the arena floor."

The game will not be rescheduled.

The Tampa Bay Lightning played in the arena Thursday night, and work was performed overnight to cover the ice surface and install the basketball court. When the Magic arrived to practice Friday morning, the court was still wet and slippery -- though it was unclear if the moisture was from the ice below or the process of cleaning the court -- and the NBA 3-point lines hadn't been installed.

 

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