Donte

DiVincenzo

DiVincenzo is headed to Minnesota as part of the Towns trade after a stellar postseason performance for the shorthanded Knicks. With the addition of Mikal Bridges, he was likely headed to the bench in New York. While DiVincenzo stands to be a reserve in Minnesota, there may be more room for him to operate as a critical scoring option for the second unit. His fantasy status doesn’t change much regarding where the “Big Ragu” should be drafted, but his ceiling has been raised despite being ticketed for a bench role.

Everything seems to be coming together for the Knicks. Less than 24 hours after trading for Mikal Bridges, they are able to bring Anunoby back on a long-term deal, giving them one of the most formidable perimeter defenses in the league. Assuming both Bridges and OG start alongside Brunson and Randle, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo will likely come off the bench. New York also may struggle to bring back Isaiah Hartenstein now that they have committed so much money to Anunoby. However, they now have one of the deepest rotations in the league and still have two first round picks to add more talent.

As the Knicks continued to lose players, DiVincenzo kept firing away. He was outstanding in Game 7, shooting over 50% from the field and scoring 39 points. While DiVincenzo had a few games this postseason in which he struggled, the overall play was excellent. His 2023-24 season was better than anyone imagined, with DiVincenzo progressing from valued reserve to fixture in the Knicks starting lineup. He provided 3rd-round fantasy value after the trade deadline and finished the season just outside the top 60 in 9-cat formats. Expecting that level of production from DiVincenzo in 2024-25 would be a bit much, especially with a healthy Knicks roster. However, he’ll be worth selecting just inside the top 100.

DiVincenzo has cooled off considerably since scoring 25 points or more in the series’ first three games. While he hit double figures in Game 6, the Big Ragu has gone 13-of-41 from the field in Games 4 through 6. With Jalen Brunson receiving constant defensive attention from the Pacers, the Knicks need more from DiVincenzo in Game 7 on Sunday afternoon. The same can be said for reserve Alec Burks, who shot 2-of-8 from the field on Friday, especially if Josh Hart (abdomen) is limited or cannot play. Burks finished Game 6 with 11 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one 3-pointer in 25 minutes.

After catching fire in the Knicks’ Game 3 loss on Friday, DiVincenzo could not find his groove in Game 4. And that was the case for the team as a whole, as New York was outscored by a 34-14 margin in the first quarter and never got back into the game. DiVincenzo was subbed out late in the third quarter as the last starter to exit Sunday’s loss. The Knicks host Game 5 on Tuesday, with the series tied at two. Given how shorthanded New York is, their hope has to be that the extra time on the bench in Game 4 will give their stars a boost.

With OG Anunoby (hamstring) sidelined, the Knicks looked to DiVincenzo even more than usual in Game 3. And he answered the call, knocking down seven 3-pointers and scoring 35 points with a full stat line. The Pacers will pay even more attention to DiVincenzo in Sunday’s Game 4, but that isn’t going to make him “gun shy.” Look for the Big Ragu, who has scored at least 25 points in all three games of this series, to put up a lot of shots as the Knicks attempt to steal one on the road.

The Knicks held serve at home in the first two games, and DiVincenzo’s improved play is one reason. The “Big Ragu” has been on a bit of a heater, with his run of three straight games of 23 points or more beginning with the Game 6 win over Philadelphia. In the first two games against the Pacers, DiVincenzo has scored 53 points on 20-of-37 shooting from the field (11-of-21 from three). Indiana doesn’t defend as well as Philadelphia, especially on the wings, and the Knicks have taken advantage. DiVincenzo will look to keep his run going in Game 3 on Friday.

After struggling for most of the Knicks’ first-round series against Philadelphia, DiVincenzo played well in Game 1 against the Pacers. He made five of New York’s 11 3-pointers, combining with fellow Villanova alums Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart to score 92 of the team’s 121 points. Given New York’s lack of bench production (Pacers reserves outscored their Knicks counterparts by a 46-3 margin in Game 1), DiVincenzo must be consistently good in this series. Game 1 was a good start, with Game 2 scheduled for Wednesday night.

Having struggled for most of the series, DiVincenzo saved his best for last as the Knicks advanced to the second round in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2000. He hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter, and the 23 points were one more than the Big Ragu’s total in Games 3 through 5. Miles McBride, who took some of DiVincenzo’s minutes during that three-game dry spell, only played nine minutes in Game 6 and finished with three points (1-of-4 3-pointers). The Knicks advance to take on the Pacers, with Game 1 set for Monday night in New York.

Hart continues to flourish offensively, as Philadelphia does not appear convinced in his ability to shoot the basketball. The former Villanova standout shot 4-of-8 from beyond the arc in Game 3, moving to 12-of-23 for the series. Given the sample size, Philadelphia may look to adjust its approach to defending Hart, which means the Knicks will need more from Donte DiVincenzo. While responsible for a thunderous second-quarter dunk, the “Big Ragu” missed all three of his 3-point attempts and finished with five points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 27 minutes. New York will take a 2-1 series lead into Sunday’s Game 4.