“Thanks for the trade Thibs… This is what happens when you let me handle things”. Donte DiVincenzo's pike from the free-throw line to his former coach, Tom Thibodeau, has already the tour of social networks. It sums up well the atmosphere that reigned for this preseason match between Knicks and Wolves, a few weeks after the trade which saw Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo move from New York to Minnesota while Karl-Anthony Towns went the other way.
In an electric context, each team wanted to show that they had emerged a winner from this exchange, even if Julius Randle was not in the Wolves side. Which gave rise to an intense match, notably with an already untenable Anthony Edwards (31 points) who allowed his team to take the lead at the break (57-55).
The gap increased to +10 after the locker room (65-55), but the Knicks gradually fell behind, responding by winning the third quarter 33-26, with a 16-4 to end the period (88 -83).
Jalen Brunson's father gets heated with Donte DiVincenzo
Karl-Anthony Towns did his work with 16 points and 16 rebounds against the Reid-Gobert pair, and Tom Thibodeau's men were able to conclude with Jalen Brunson (24 points) and the strength of their collective (7 players with 12 points and more). It was in particular the “second unit” which managed the last act, between the outside baskets of Miles McBride and Landry Shamet, or the welcome inspirations of Cameron Payne and Precious Achiuwa for a 115-110 success marked by a start of explanation between Donte DiVincenzo and Rick Brunsonwho had obviously not appreciated the attitude of his former player.
The tension will now subside until the end of December, the date of the next confrontation between the two teams.
After the meeting, Donte DiVincenzo explained that his sentence was a “private joke” with his former coach, about his ability to finish by dribbling near the circle. But the responses that flowed from the New York bench took the exchange out of the comic register. As for the interaction with Rick Brunson, he intends to handle it “privately.”
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
