DALLAS — Golden State’s Splash Brothers were trying not to get wet at the start of the second half Tuesday night as water leaked through the roof of the American Airlines Center, delaying Game 4 of the Western Conference finals between the Warriors and Mavericks by 16 minutes.
The teams had to sit through a rare rain delay in basketball out of halftime while arena workers tried to plug a leak, coming from the rain outside, in the ceiling high above.
This was the second time water dripping through the American Airlines Center roof affected a Mavericks game. It also delayed the start of a Timberwolves-Mavericks game by 15 minutes back on March 21.
The arena opened on July 17, 2001.
The Mavericks led 62-47 at the half. During the delay, players from both teams stood near half court looking up at the ceiling, with a couple of Warriors players playing rock, paper, scissors to pass the time. While the leak dripped onto the baseline close in front of the Warriors’ bench, the Mavericks were the team that started the third quarter playing on that side of the court.
Once the game resumed, the Mavericks continued to build on their lead, jumping out to a 99-70 advantage by the end of the third quarter and going on to win 119-109.