NEW YORK -- The highly anticipated game between the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks, postponed in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, has been rescheduled for Nov. 26 at the $1 billion Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the NBA announced Thursday.
The game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET and be televised nationally on TNT.
The league wanted to go on with the game as scheduled Thursday, the season opener for both teams. But New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recommended it be postponed.
"Mayor Bloomberg informed us this afternoon that after further analysis of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy that he 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 Wednesday. "Our thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating storm."
The rescheduled date is far from optimal. It will be both teams' fifth game in seven nights.
The Knicks begin their season Friday night against the Miami Heat, not sure what to expect when they take the floor but hoping it helps their devastated city in some way.
The Knicks know that with the difficulties fans are facing, it may not be the usual packed house that would be expected for a marquee matchup against the team that knocked them out of last season's playoffs. But they're ready to play.
While Knicks forward Steve Novak said that "either way, it will be great to be in the building," Miami's Dwyane Wade doesn't think the teams should play Friday.
"We shouldn't B hre 2 play a basketball game when theirs so many families obviously still R affected by #Sandy," Wade tweeted. "I luv playing in the garden but cnt do nothing but think abt all the families that dont have power,food,water etc..ths is a tragic hit 4 ths gr8 city,"
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
