Damage across New York from Hurricane Sandy has forced the NBA to postpone the Brooklyn Nets' home opener against the New York Knicks originally set for Thursday, the league has announced.

The long-awaited game, the first for the club in the new $US1 billion ($A970 million) Barclays Center since the club moved from New Jersey after last season, did not immediately receive a rescheduled date.

A day after vowing the game would go on, the league was told by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg that the smartest move was a postponement.

"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," NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said.

"Our thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating storm."

The killer storm knocked out electricity and damaged buildings and trees as well as touched off flooding, including severe damage to the New York subway system, typically a primary method of transport to the new arena.

The showdown was to have been the first home game for a Brooklyn-based sports team since Major League Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles after the 1957 season.

"We're definitely disappointed not to be able to play because it was the home opener," Nets guard Deron Williams told ESPN.

"A lot of people have lost homes, have lost loved ones, so in the grand scheme of things it's really not that important.

"There's high water in a lot of places. There are a lot of problems out there."