Coaching the Nets this season has been a painful, job-killing, often humiliating experience. But it was exactly what Kiki Vandeweghe wanted last night.
Vandeweghe’s mother, Colleen Kay Hutchins, 83, who was Miss America 1952, died yesterday morning at her home in Newport Beach, Calif., after a lengthy illness. Vandeweghe was with her before flying back to New Jersey late Tuesday.
“It’s better for me to stay busy, to tell you the truth,” he said before last night’s 93-79 win over the Tyreke Evans-less Kings at the Meadowlands.
Vandeweghe, dressed in black, gained some comfort as the Nets ended a 14-game home losing streak, an eight-game skid overall and won for only the eighth time this season.
“My mother was obviously very special to all of our family, to me and to my father, known here around New York as Dr. Ernie,” said Vandeweghe, who had missed the loss Monday when assistant John Loyer coached.
“She talked to my dad about it. He said she would have wanted me here. She knows that I love this, and we love it as a family.
“What I’d like to say is, ‘Thanks, Mom. We got one.’ ”
The Nets got this one with Brook Lopez (26 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, four blocks) being a monster at both ends. They got it with Devin Harris (24 points, nine assists) continuing his drive back to the player of last season. And most of all, they got it with defense, tying their season’s lowest point yield and holding the Kings to .358 shooting.
“We wanted it for him,” Harris said of Vandeweghe.
“Honestly, not much was mentioned but you’ve got to feel good for him,” Lopez said of Vandeweghe.
It helped that Evans [concussion] was out for the Kings. They were, well, Net-like.
“By miles and miles, our worst game of the year,” coach Paul Westphal said.
So Vandeweghe, who’ll remain with the team because a memorial service has been delayed until after the season, got the therapy he needed. And a win.
For one game, the Net avoided the worst home record in team history. In 1976-77, the Nets, in their initial season in the NBA, were a franchise-worst 10-31.
At 8-63 overall, the Nets are 4-31 at home. Additionally, the Nets dodged their shot at breaking the NBA all-time record for consecutive home defeats, 19 by Dallas in 1993-94. And they continue their quest replacing the 1972-73 Sixers, who were 9-73, as the NBA’s worst ever.
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Nets were without Terrence Williams (left foot and ankle injury), scheduled more tests today. Despite ominous signs, he says he could play tomorrow.
“The MRI said I need a CAT scan. A little piece fell off in my foot but I could have played tonight,” he said. “I was running in my house [so I] hopefully try to play [tomorrow].”