2 days Ago By Jace Frederick / St. Paul Pioneer Press
Donte DiVincenzo has played five games since returning to the Timberwolves’ lineup after a toe injury sidelined the sharpshooter for six weeks. ADVERTISEMENT In each of those games, the Wolves have outscored their opponent by 12-plus points while DiVincenzo was on the floor. That run of plus-12 performances or better ties the franchise record for such a plus-minus streak, and it’s the only such five-game streak in Timberwolves’ history to include team losses.
Even in defeats, the Wolves are running their opponents off the floor in the periods when DiVincenzo is on the court. That’s the type of impact he’s had since finding his rhythm midway through December. DiVincenzo leads the Timberwolves in net rating since Dec.
19, with Minnesota outscoring opponents by seven points per 100 possessions when he’s in the lineup. He sports the team’s best offensive rating (117.3 points per 100 possessions) in that time, while also maintaining strong team numbers on the other end.
ADVERTISEMENT His individual production is a big reason for all of it. Since that Dec. 19 date, DiVincenzo is leading the NBA in 3-point shooting, knocking down 46.
9% of his eight triple tries per game. He’s averaging 1.4 steals per game, just 0.
1 behind Jaden McDaniels for the team lead. Mike Conley noted DiVincenzo’s impact on the Wolves comes on “both ends of the floor.” “The way he competes on the ball, the way he competes on the defensive end is one of our best on the team,” Conley said.
“He’s after every loose ball, going for 50-50 balls, trying to block shots. Just being everywhere with that energy that we need.” But the offense is where he causes Minnesota to evolve.
ADVERTISEMENT The way he moves without the ball is contagious, and his spacing — DiVincenzo frequently spots up 30-plus feet away from the hoop — opens up the floor for all of his teammates. Conley noted he hasn’t previously played with someone who spaces the floor to that extent. “Not too many guys can do that and can say they can do it at a high level,” Conley said.
“There’s some shots he shoots that I wouldn’t even look at the rim. He’s ready to shoot it, and we’re learning that now. Dribble hand off, shoot it from 35 (feet), let’s go.
We want him to keep doing it.” Especially the way he’s been knocking them down at the moment. DiVincenzo is shooting a gaudy 56% from 3-point range since returning from injury.
He’s also averaging four rebounds, four assists and two steals per game in that span. ADVERTISEMENT “He’s just kind of doing everything. .
.. His activity on defense has been great, rebounding.
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We love him as a rebounding guard,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “He’s like in midseason form. You would never know he had six weeks off.
He hasn’t looked rusty at all.” This is the grand prize on a great contract the organization felt it was acquiring when it traded Karl-Anthony Towns to New York, the guard who played a key role in New York’s scintillating second half of the 2023-24 campaign. DiVincenzo looks every bit like that flamethrower at the moment.
“To have a guy that can play the way he does on both ends of the floor is huge for us to add at this point in the season,” Conley said. ADVERTISEMENT Rudy Gobert has been upgraded to questionable for Friday’s game in Miami on the team’s injury report. He’s been out since before the All-Star break with a lower-back ailment.
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