NBA

Nets’ Humphries cheered at home

At least somebody loves Kris Humphries.

Humphries, who has been mocked by opposing fans over his failed marriage to reality television star Kim Kardashian, was warmly embraced by Nets fans at Prudential Center during last night’s 106-70 loss to the Hawks in their home opener.

When he was introduced before the game, Humphries received a huge ovation from the fans, second only to the cheers for star point guard Deron Williams. Then, during the game, the fans repeatedly chanted, “We Love Humphries!”

“It’s our home crowd,” Humphries said. “We play hard for them, and they cheer for us.”

Humphries, who finished with 11 points and six rebounds, expected to get better treatment last night than he had in his first two games this season — the preseason finale at the Garden against the Knicks and Monday’s season opener in Washington.

“As long as we have a bunch of our fans in here, I’m sure we’re going to be good,” Humphries said before the game. “But who knows? Maybe they’ll think that’s what motivates me.”

You couldn’t blame them if they did. After barely practicing with the team since signing last week and getting just a brief cameo in the final preseason game, Humphries heard the boos at the start of the opener and then went out and dominated the Wizards’ frontcourt in Monday night’s 90-84 win.

Humphries finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds on 9-for-14 shooting in just under 39 minutes, and helped lead the Nets back from a 21-point first-half deficit.

“Looks like he was a little motivated [to me],” Williams said afterward. “I was definitely impressed by the way he played tonight, given the circumstances. Before he practiced the other day he’d only had, what, two practices? And played five minutes in a preseason game.

“He’s definitely someone we need this year for how hard he battles and fights.”

Humphries was expected to be a bit player coming off the bench for the Nets last season. But he became one of the league’s biggest surprises, and was one of six players in the NBA to finish the season averaging a double-double (10.0 points and 10.4 rebounds).

But he showed in Monday’s opener he could be poised to take another step forward this season, something Nets coach Avery Johnson has mentioned several times since Humphries was brought back on a one-year deal last week.