Heat vs. Cavaliers Delayed After Scoreboard Leaks Oily Substance onto Floor

Ethan Grant Analyst IMarch 20, 2013

MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 07: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat looks on during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at American Airlines Arena on February 7, 2012 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Heading into Wednesday night, the Miami Heat likely thought the only deterrent to a 24-game win streak was LeBron James' old team—the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Scoreboard malfunction should be added to that list.

That's the latest from the South Florida Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman, who reported on Twitter that the start of Wednesday's showdown in Cleveland has been delayed due to a leaky substance from the Quicken Loans Arena's scoreboard:

Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Cavaliers say issue is from scoreboard, with a 15-minute delay now in place, plus additional player warm-ups to follow.
2013-3-20 23:19:40

Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Could be looking at as much as an hour delay.
2013-3-20 23:20:33

Cavaliers team owner Dan Gilbert also posted on Twitter that the team was working overtime to fix the problem and get the game started:

Dan Gilbert @cavsdan
Scoreboard is leaking fluid on to floor.We need to lower scoreboard to fix. Never seen this one before. Going to be several minutes to fix.
2013-3-20 23:22:23

Sam Amico posted this tweet to help clarify what caused the malfunction:

Sam Amico @AmicoHoops
Scoreboard issue at The Q blamed on "condensation from CO2 tank." Cavs have had scoreboard since 2007, say they have never experienced this.
2013-3-20 23:39:55

Beyond the Buzzer also posted a tweet with various pictures from the arena during what should have been NBA action:

BeyondTheBuzzer @beyondthebuzzer
Cavaliers-Heat delayed because of an oily substance leaking from scoreboard http://t.co/zp5XQ2yyU6
2013-3-20 23:35:25

If there wasn't enough intrigue from Miami's current winning streak and the always-interesting return of King James to his former team, this incident made sure that fans got their money's worth.

James, who scored 30 and 28 points in two wins over the Cavaliers so far this season (both in Miami), side-stepped any questions about a potential return to Cleveland from reporters on Wednesday in his first return trip to Ohio during the 2012-13 season (via Jodie Valade of the Cleveland Plain Dealer).

With the Heat winning every game in the past 23 contests, who would blame him?

The Heat are going to have a chance to get to win No. 24 in a row, but fans at the Q are going to have to wait for the action to start until the floor can be cleaned and the problem with the scoreboard rectified.