Playing 48 minutes, getting 23 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks, and shooting 5 of 9 three-pointers, DiVincenzo filled the data column, perfectly interpreting the 3D player. On May 3, Beijing time, the Knicks defeated the 76ers 118-115 away, and eliminated the opponent with a total score of 4-2 to reach the Eastern Conference semifinals. DiVincenzo is undoubtedly a big part of this series. The NCAA MOP was good at playing tough battles. The Bucks and Warriors dropped him one after the other, and now he's having the best performance of his career with the Knicks.
DiVincenzo started for the Knicks this season, averaging 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 44.3% from the field, 40.1% from three-point range, 75.4% from the free throw line, and 3.5 three-pointers per game. DiVincenzo's scoring, three-point percentage, and three-point shooting all set career highs.
DiVincenzo, 27, was the No. 17 pick in 2018 and helped Villanova University win two NCAA championships in college and was crowned MOP in 2018.
After entering the NBA, DiVincenzo worked as a starting point guard for the Bucks, but was traded to the Kings by the Bucks in the middle of the 2021-22 season, and he later moved to the Warriors. In the summer of 2023, DiVincenzo, who returned to free agency, was moved by two college teammates, Brunson and Hart, to join the Knicks and become an important player on the team.
The three Villanova brothers all started the second half of the regular season and worked together very well on the court. It's an enviable thing for three college teammates to play on an NBA team together. All three have undergone a metamorphosis this season.
In this game against the 76ers, DiVincenzo's three-point firepower was key. 76ers backup shooting guard Hield exploded in the second quarter and hit back-to-back three-pointers to help the team overtake the Knicks. DiVincenzo has been playing consistently, playing both offensively and defensively, and he has also taken care of playmaking.
He was tied for the second-highest assists of the game with seven assists. Brunson was heavily cared for by the 76ers, and thankfully DiVincenzo and Hart shared a lot of the organizational pressure on Brunson. DiVincenzo remained solid in the crucial final quarter, scoring six points, diching out three assists and blocking Maxey.
In this game, DiVincenzo blocked Maxey twice, he marked the opponent very tightly, and once he hated Embiid. DiVincenzo left no stone unturned on the defensive end. I have to say that the Knicks made a lot of money by bringing in DiVincenzo for $50 million in 4 years, which was completely a leak.