Water Leak at Barclays Center Causes 'Rain Delay' During NBA Game

A roof installation at Barclays Center in New York City led to the leak.

ByABC News
December 17, 2014, 4:30 AM
Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins, left, stands beside floor attendants as a roof leak causes a delay in the first half of their NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat at the Barclays Center, Dec. 16, 2014, in New York.
Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins, left, stands beside floor attendants as a roof leak causes a delay in the first half of their NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat at the Barclays Center, Dec. 16, 2014, in New York.
John Minchillo/AP Photo

— -- A basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat was delayed for about 30 minutes Tuesday, after a leak left water dripping onto the court.

The installation of a new roof at New York City’s Barclays Center, which cost $1 billion to build, led to the leak, center officials said.

PHOTO: Floor attendants stand beside a garbage can under a roof leak that causes a delay in the first half an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat at the Barclays Center, Dec. 16, 2014, in New York.
Floor attendants stand beside a garbage can under a roof leak that causes a delay in the first half an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat at the Barclays Center, Dec. 16, 2014, in New York.

Play was suspended with 1:47 remaining in the first quarter. As the water dripped onto the court, personnel covered the floor with towels and added a garbage can to collect the water.

PHOTO: Floor attendants look up at a roof leak causing a delay in the first half an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat at the Barclays Center, Dec. 16, 2014, in New York.
Floor attendants look up at a roof leak causing a delay in the first half an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat at the Barclays Center, Dec. 16, 2014, in New York.

Miami charged ahead after play resumed, winning 95-91.

Rainouts have happened at indoor sports facilities before, but it’s uncommon. A 1986 NBA game between the Seattle SuperSonics and Phoenix Suns was postponed due to a leaking roof. In 1976, baseball’s Houston Astros, playing in the Astrodome, had to reschedule a game because of flooding in and around the stadium after a storm.