Nets-Knicks showdown postponed due to Hurricane Sandy

New York, NY, United States (4E Sports) – Havoc inflicted by Hurricane Sandy resulted in the cancellation of Thursday’s showdown between cross-town rival Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks.

After further analysis of the damage, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the cancellation of the first NBA regular-season game at the $1 billion Barclays Center.

“Mayor Bloomberg felt it was in the best interests of the city of New York, the teams and our fans that we postpone the Knicks-Nets game scheduled for Thursday night,” NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating storm.”

The NBA will announce a makeup date for the rescheduled game at a later time.

“The bottom line is, there just isn’t a lot of mass transit and the police have other things to do,” said Bloomberg, adding that he recommended to the NBA that the league postpone the game.

Nets and Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark said all tickets for the Nets-Knicks game will be honored for the rescheduled game.

“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by Hurricane Sandy,” Yormark said. “We know these are trying times for so many of you and our thoughts are with you.”

Earlier, the NBA announced that the game would take place as scheduled but going to the venue will be a problem for fans as New York’s mass transit system was shut down by Hurricane Sandy

With the development, the Nets will now open the regular season Saturday night at the Barclays Center against the Toronto Raptors.

Bloomberg is working with the city to provide extra bus service for fans to get to the arena for the Raptors game.

Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald said Friday’s game against the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden will be played as scheduled. “We’re good to go,” Grunwald said.

Nets coach Avery Johnson informed his team that the game would be postponed in the middle of Wednesday’s practice at the Barclays Center, which did not sustain any structural damage.

“We’re definitely disappointed … but we realize the seriousness of the situation,” Nets point guard Deron Williams said. “A lot of people have lost homes and lost loved ones, so in the grand scheme of things, it’s really not that important.”

All of the Nets’ players showed up for Wednesday’s practice except rookie backup point guard Tyshawn Taylor, who remains stuck at his Hoboken, N.J. apartment building due to flooding in the area.

Williams said a lot of the players suffered damage to their houses and cars, and many are still without power.

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